In fresh days cybersecurity experts have been beating the alarm, reporting a coordinated wave of attacks that threatens millions of Poles. Hackers, utilizing increasingly advanced methods, aim at customers of the 3 largest banks in Poland. PKO BP, Santander Bank Polska and Millennium are institutions whose customers have become victims of advanced fraud. Money in the accounts of Poles is in danger, and the consequences of these attacks can be disastrous. What is the mechanics of criminal action and what can you do to defend your savings?
How do hackers attack banks?
The number of online frauds that usage sociotechnique is expanding overnight to extort log-in data to banks. CERT Orange Polska, the organisation liable for monitoring and protecting against cyber threats warns that the last series of attacks is peculiarly hard to separate from real banking communications. Hackers send false SMSes impersonating banks, informing customers of alleged account problems or the request to update a mobile application. Worse still, these messages contain linksthat lead to false pages online, almost identical copies of real bank sites.
What do fraudulent messages contain?
It is worth noting that these messages are well worked out, so they can easy deceive even the most alert users. Here is an example of text message that could be found on your phone:
- "Dear customer, we have an improved app ready for Santander. delight verify the fresh application until 10.03.2025 at this link...’
- "Access to your online banking will expire present 10.03.2025 at 23:00. Do not delay, it will only take a minute to renew.”
Cheaters frequently usage Polish telephone numberwhich adds credibility to the full operation. Links lead to websites that look identical to authoritative banking services. By clicking on the link, the client is redirected to the page where they are asked to login and password.
What effect does specified deception have?
Unconscious customers who fall victim to fraud may lose their savings. Many people do not realize that after entering their data into a fake website, criminals gain access to a bank account. Unfortunately, in specified cases repairing harm can be hard and recovery of money – almost impossible.
How can you identify fraud and defend yourself?
Although fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, there are inactive a fewer simple rules that will aid avoid danger. Here are the most crucial ones:
- Never click on links in SMS or email messages, especially if they lead to pages requiring login. Real banks never send links on messages.
- Check URLs. False pages frequently contain typos, additional signs or different extensions that may propose that we are dealing with a fake.
- Advantage from authoritative banking applications. Download apps only from trusted sources – Google Play, App store or straight from the bank.
- Activate login notifications. Thanks to them you will know if individual tries to log into your account without your knowledge.
- Report suspicious messages. Any suspicious notification should be reported to the bank to aid identify the threat more quickly.
Why be careful?
Every year the number of phishing attacks increases. Cheaters constantly improve their methods, making extortion more effective. Criminals know how to manipulate victims' emotions, utilizing fear or urgent request to do something. specified crimes have serious consequences, and victims lose not only money, but besides a sense of safety on the Internet.
Future of fraud – what to pay attention to?
Experts foretell that phishing attacks will only intensify, and cheaters will increasingly be creative in choosing their methods. Shortening consequence time to attack is crucial in protecting against specified threats. Another danger to remember is poor user education on online security. Often, the ignorance of users is 1 of the main reasons why specified fraud is successful.
What measures are banks taking?
PKO BP, Santander and Millennium are institutions that work intensively to improve the safety of their customers. They implement a variety of protection methods, specified as two-stage verification is monitoring of suspicious transactions. The banks besides cooperate with law enforcement authorities and cybersecurity organisations to effectively counter crime.
Regardless of how advanced the methods of bank protection are, responsibility for security accounts mostly remainder with users themselves. Applying basic safety rules can prevent us from losing money and losing data. It is worth keeping an eye out and remembering that nothing is certain on the web.
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