
There’s an old joke in acting circles, when an actor is auditioning for a part, and their performance is not up to scratch, the auditioner might say:
“You’re a fine actor, John Doe, but don’t call us. We’ll call you…”
But if you’re not an aspiring actor, and you haven’t had an audition for a part in a movie, yet somebody calls you out of the blue to ‘help’ you with online security or to save your bank account from being plundered, then the message is simple – hang up! You might enjoy trying a few choice insults into the bargain…
The fact remains that banks, computer companies, and online service providers don’t ever call their customers advising them to give out their passwords over the phone. They certainly don’t prompt people to move their money into ‘safe’ accounts, as your account may have been hacked. Genuine institutions might freeze your account and e-mail or text you to urge you to call them, but if that’s the case, never use a link that anyone might have sent you; call the institution via their regular call center or your phone’s banking app.
Out on the street
Such fraud is on the rise year after year. The increase in all this scamming is simply because banks no longer work in the ‘traditional’ way of people dropping into their local high street branch to draw cash, make deposits, or even meet a manager to obtain a loan. Brick-and-mortar bank branches outside cities are becoming rarer than honest politicians nowadays! And even when you do find a building to enter with your bank’s logo over the door, it will probably have dozens of faceless terminals and about two staff who are there to look helpful, but they’ll refer you every time to the screen on the wall. Want a short-term overdraft? The computer says no.
Another reason for personally targeted scams, as opposed to the internet baddies trying to install spyware and the like, is that more people are using VPNs (virtual private networks), which successfully prevent malicious software installations from hackers.
A VPN is a first line of defense against scammers because a good free VPN provider will ensure that its network of encrypted servers can detect any potential malware and ransomware before it can even make its way onto your device. A VPN is a remarkably simple yet extremely effective way of beefing up your online security. If you don’t use one, how you would access the internet goes like this:
A short-wave radio signal (Wi-Fi) or Local Area Network (LAN) cable connects whatever device you’re using to the router/modem in your home. That modem is connected to a telephone copper cable or a fiber connection, which goes outside into the street and away from the national telecoms network. In turn, this connects to your internet service provider (ISP), which allows the final connection to your target website or social media service of choice, say a file transfer protocol (FTP) server or an email provider, anywhere in the world.
Pedal to the metal – full throttle
But when using a VPN, the VPN provider first connects you to your ISP via an encrypted server, which both anonymizes and cloaks your identity and geographic location. This means that even your ISP, let alone any potential hackers or scammers, can’t identify who you are or from where you’re accessing the web. The VPN’s server network will instantly detect any suspicious ‘peek and poke’ activity from potential hackers trying to install surreptitious virus-ridden software onto your device. It will cut your internet connection instantly if it does.
However, the advantages of a VPN are not limited to extra security. When using a VPN, you also protect yourself from slowing your connection to online streaming sites down or ‘throttled’ by your ISP. Throttling is a practice carried out by ISPs when their network is undergoing seriously heavy usage, perhaps during times of major events like the Olympic Games when everyone is streaming TV services at all hours or when individuals running small businesses from home might be heavy data users who breach their ISP’s ‘fair usage policies. In either case, the ISP chooses an individual consumer or an entire area of customers to slow down so that data transfer eases across their network.
But by using a VPN, the ISP doesn’t know who or where you are, so it can’t slow your connection.
The other major advantage of using a VPN is to avoid geographic restrictions on streaming services. Imagine if you’re on vacation in Germany, visiting distant relatives from your grandfather’s home country, and you retire to your hotel room to watch your favorite Netflix show. The content you want to watch will almost certainly be unavailable, as Netflix’s servers would detect your European location via your internet protocol (IP) address and block your access. But using your VPN, you choose a server located in the US from where to access Netflix – and it’s show time!
In summary, to avoid getting scammed, and to enjoy a better daily online experience, it’s a great idea to download a VPN. So, unless you’re stupid enough to wire a complete stranger all your money because they called you and said they worked for your bank, you can stay safe while enjoying other benefits.