CHICAGO, March 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — March is an exciting time for diehard and casual college basketball fans alike, but anyone planning to party around the tournament should remain vigilant to protect their personal and financial information from cyberthreats. The contest is an opportune time for cybercriminals to send phishing scams, steal sensitive information, and scam you out of money. To help fans avoid becoming victims of cybercrime, Keeper Security provides the following cybersecurity tips.
#1 Beware of phishing scams. Cybercriminals use phishing scams to steal your personal information. During the tournament, cybercriminals may send phishing emails or text messages with malicious links or attachments disguised as updates to games or brackets. To avoid becoming a victim of a phishing attackdo not open attachments or click on links from unknown sources, verify that it is a trusted source requesting information and check all the links to make sure they don’t take you to a malicious site. Scammers also use social engineering to trick people into sending them money using any information they can find about you. They may pose as a friend or family member saying they need money to buy tickets or place bets on games. Scammers can pretend that the athletes themselves or their family members have stories about needing money to get into the game.
#2 Create strong and unique passwords for all your accounts. When creating accounts to track games, create a bracket or share in the tournament fun in any other way, it can be tempting to reuse passwords. Make sure you have different high-strength passwords for all your accounts. This way, if one account is breached, a cybercriminal won’t have access to all of them. Passwords must be at least 12 characters long with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, a variety of special characters and a random assortment of numbers. Also, consider using a passphrase instead of a word. Avoid using predictable information such as familiar names, dates of birth and addresses. A password manager can generate and securely store strong passwords, which can be especially useful for accounts that are not used frequently. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication for your accounts as an additional layer of security.
#3 Beware of free sports streams. Cord cutters and fans trying to get around regional blackouts often turn to the internet in search of free streams to watch their favorite teams, but they may pay a price with their security. While there are legitimate websites and apps that will stream certain games for free, websites that host illegal streams may also host ads for questionable content or products and malicious links that can install malware that can harm your system.
#4 Don’t fall for fake ticket sales or fake brackets. Fake tickets abound at any major sporting event, but if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Only buy tickets from trusted sellers that offer a secure payment system and recourse if tickets don’t arrive. The tournament is also a time when more fans are trying to win money in the games, and scammers are ready to take advantage. They can create fake bracket tournaments that promise big prizes to the winners. Once they collect your entry fee or personal information, however, they disappear and winners do not receive their prizes.
#5 Be careful when using public WiFi. If you’re going to watch a tournament at a venue that offers WiFi, think twice before connecting. Public WiFi is a major battleground for cybercriminals. So, without proper protections, you can be vulnerable to a cyberattack and eavesdropping. Open public WiFi should not be used to transmit any personal or financial information. The use of public computers should be avoided for the same reason. Use a trusted network with a strong WiFi password, a VPN when possible, and make sure your home router’s software is up to date.
To avoid falling victim to sports-related scams, always be wary of unsolicited messages or offers, double-check the authenticity of the sender or website, and never provide personal information or payment without verifying the authenticity legitimacy of a transaction. By following these simple tips, fans are less likely to fall victim to cybercrime this March.
About Keeper
Keeper Security is changing how people secure their passwords and confidential information against growing online threats. Forgot your password? Never again with Keeper’s easy-to-use password manager that saves you time, increases your security and streamlines your online experience. Built on the highest zero-trust and zero-knowledge standards, Keeper protects you and your family on every device. Keeper is trusted by millions of people around the world with more than 230,000 5-star reviews in app stores, and is recognized by publications including PCMag and US News & World Report as the leader in password storage, secure sharing and encrypted messaging. Learn more at KeeperSecurity.com.