Lahore: Along with the joys of the New Year, online threats are also on the rise, where the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency has issued a special warning to the public to stay safe from cybercrime. According to the agency, citizens are being targeted through fake gifts, prizes and greeting messages.
The agency says that these messages appear to be general congratulations or gifts, but the links in them take users to malicious websites, from where their personal and financial information can be stolen.
The NCCIA has clarified that no organization or company provides prizes or gifts through simple messages, so it is important to be wary of such claims. Citizens have been instructed to strengthen the privacy settings of their accounts and file an immediate report in case of suspicious activity.
According to authorities, in several cases, it has been seen that as soon as users click on a suspicious link, their mobile phones or social media accounts are illegally accessed, which later leads to problems such as financial fraud and identity misuse.
The NCCIA has advised the public not to let hackers see their happiness and to be cautious in the online world.
According to IT experts, cybercriminals use psychological tactics and users’ attention spans weaken during festive occasions. Experts say it is important to verify the source of any suspicious message before opening it, while strong passwords and security updates play an important role in protecting against cyber attacks.
