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Week 37: Many roads lead to fake support

19.09.2023 - In recent months, cybercriminals have come up with a variety of fake support scams that are aimed at installing a remote access tool on the victim's computer and then making credit card payments or e-banking transactions.

S-U-P-E-R.ch – How to properly delete data that is no longer needed

18.09.2023 - Backing up data is not the only important thing. If information is no longer required, it should be properly deleted or destroyed. However, «deleting» is not the same as «permanently deleting». Deleting data is generally a multi-stage process, as electronic data is not completely removed when it is deleted with the delete key or the delete function. To delete data permanently, the storage location of the information must be repeatedly overwritten.

Week 36: New variants of fake threatening emails from authorities in circulation

12.09.2023 - For the past two years, threatening emails purporting to come from the police or other authorities have been among the most reported cases at the NCSC. After using similar content for a long time, the attackers are now using a new variant to try and unsettle the recipients with allegations of tax evasion.

S-U-P-E-R.ch – What to bear in mind when backing up data

07.09.2023 - Much of the data that is important to us, such as photos, appointments or contacts, is now stored on our smartphones, tablets or computers. But what happens if your smartphone is lost, your computer is attacked or your tablet develops a technical defect? All of the data is lost in a split second. Unless you have a backup. At times like these, it becomes all too clear just how important it is to back up your data regularly.

Week 35: Fake job offers 2.0

05.09.2023 - Fake job offers have already been reported on in previous NCSC weekly reviews. New variants have emerged in recent weeks. In contrast to previous approaches, payments do not have to be made before starting work, but only once the victim has started work.

Security authorities launch national awareness campaign on backing up data

31.08.2023 - Regularly backing up data is very important and makes a significant contribution to cybersecurity. If you can rely on a backup of your data, you have a safety net should it be encrypted and blackmailed by cybercriminals or if you lose your device. In September, the NCSC, Swiss Crime Prevention (SCP) and the cantonal and city police forces will launch a national awareness campaign on the importance of backing up data. The campaign is supported by the internet security platform iBarry and "eBanking – but secure!" (EBAS).

Week 34: When attackers try to determine the behaviour of email recipients

29.08.2023 - Fraudsters use various methods to optimise their spam lists. Last week, the NCSC discovered scam emails that exploit the read receipt function. In these cases, if the recipients confirm that they have opened and read the email, they receive further scam emails that increase the pressure and urge them to pay.

Week 33: Office365 phishing with valid website certificates

22.08.2023 - Phishing attacks on Office365 are increasingly in the form of man-in-the-middle attacks, with the attacker slipping in unnoticed between two parties involved in an exchange. In this way, content can be changed in a network connection that is actually protected. What is so perfidious is that the current variants of these attacks are almost undetectable, as the attackers' valid certificates are displayed in the browser.

Week 32: WhatsApp hacking via voicemail

15.08.2023 - Cybercriminals are still targeting WhatsApp accounts. Attackers are pulling out all the stops to obtain the PIN code for resetting an account and they particularly appreciate having the code read out over the phone. If this is done at night, the code usually ends up being sent to voicemail, which is then hacked to obtain the information. The NCSC is currently receiving a lot of reports of hacked WhatsApp accounts.

Holiday time: what to watch out for when you return home

10.08.2023 - After you have enjoyed your summer holidays, it is important to take care of your cybersecurity too when you return home.

Information of previous years

Last modification 10.01.2023

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