4 Ways Technology Can Make Criminal Activity Easier

By
IntelligentHQ

The technological revolution of the past couple of decades has seen a number of brilliant inventions.

Smartphones and social media have allowed people to communicate and express themselves in brand new ways. Video conferencing has been instrumental in keeping the workforce going during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vehicles have sensors that can help you park and brake for you when you start crossing a double yellow line in traffic.

These are all positive outcomes, though. Not to be negative, but it should be up for discussion how much people have been able to use these new technologies to wreak havoc on society. Computers and internet access have given criminals a whole additional tool belt to work with.

Car insurance fraud is easier to commit. Stalking someone’s Instagram can give a bad person all the information they need to go steal or attack a victim when they least suspect it.

We’ll talk about the pros and cons of the technological era we are evolving into. We’ll try to decide whether the benefits presented to normal people outweigh the dangers of these creations falling into the wrong hands.

#1 – Social Media

This is the most encompassing of the technology threats in today’s society. Everyone has a social media account of some sort. Whether it’s Facebook or Snapchat, we communicate through these sites every day.

This means people need to be more aware of what information they put out there for others to see. When you post intimate photos of your life, make sure your information is not compromised in any way. Do not reveal credit card numbers, addresses, or other pertinent information if at all possible.

It is true that there are many personal bits of info that can be obtained by traditional means, but social media makes it so much easier to see these things. Don’t give bad people the opportunity to do so, especially if you work or live in an area where you know shady happenings are occurring.

There’s also the chance that social media allows stalkers to know exactly when you come and go from your place. Say you just rented an apartment, and you want to show it off to your loved ones and friends. Putting the address of your residence and letting everyone know when you go on vacations or trips is going to present some red flags for your safety.

Make logical decisions on social media. Keep personal things to yourself, and let the world know about more simplistic events that happen in your life like a dinner or a birthday party. Don’t tag your location in every post you put up. Use common sense and you should be able to protect yourself from online criminals adequately.

#2 – Fake Insurance Cards

This is one of the crimes that normal citizens may be tempted to commit because it’s been made easier by tools on the computer. Auto insurance can be expensive, and it is required to drive in most states. This means some people may create fake insurance cards on their computer that look exactly like real ones.

The templates and artistic apps that companies have put together have come in handy for so many creatives out there. They’ve also helped people make dubious decisions if they choose to. If you are on the fence about these temptations to use tech for illegal reasons, look for safer alternatives.

Use the internet and modern technology to find legal insurance that is affordable rather than faking the insurance process. Comparison tools and apps are especially convenient to help you find cheap full-coverage insurance. You will also save money if you have real insurance when you get pulled over and asked for your insurance card.

#3 – Hackers Gaining Confidential Business Information

Technology has really aided businesses in the 21st century. Employees have been able to work from home. Bosses have succeeded in communicating with their staff at a more convenient and respectful level.

Coworkers can email, go on video calls, and send messages over Slack, streamlining the processes that used to hang up cooperative work in decades past. All these tech options have created an environment ripe for cybercriminals and hackers, though.

Make sure you buy security software that specifically helps business owners and large cooperations in an effort to protect your property from these criminals. If you are a small business owner, it can be more difficult to shell out these sums of money for security sites and similar protection.

You can also opt to do smaller things like change passwords frequently so that there is less time for hackers to identify codes and break in. Ask technology experts for advice or talk to other small business owners on how they protect their company from hackers.

Tracing back to the social media discussion, there has been a lot of talk about how companies like Facebook fail to keep your information safe. Even more than for personal usage, you should make sure you are careful with using social media for business ventures.

#4 – Catfishing on Dating Apps

Applications like Tinder and Bumble have made it easier to meet new people and find love in the internet age. Diverse groups like the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities have also found these apps to be one of the only avenues to finding others who are like them. It’s been revolutionary and convenient for so many people.

The problem with these apps is that the folks who use them can get tricked by cybercriminals and phishing schemes. Always make sure that you can verify the identity of the people who you talk to on these apps. Don’t get tricked by nice compliments or promises of sex or money in exchange for pertinent personal information.

Giving out credit card information or home addresses is especially harmful if you just met someone online. The technology that is available now makes it very difficult to understand and discern who is real and who is a bot. Hackers have become adept at disguising their identities. The only thing you can do is stay cautious.

This applies to basically anything in the cyber world. If you make yourself aware of the new risks in this age of technology, you will be more successful in protecting yourself, your business, and the ones you care about.

Shawn Laib writes and researches for the car insurance comparison site, CheapCarInsuranceQuotes.com. He wants to help warn people about the dangers of the internet age and technology as it relates to criminal activity.

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