We can say that cybersecurity in Digital Marketing has two action fronts: Social networks and communication channels such as Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and email; Organizations’ websites.
Next, learn about the most common scams and how to avoid them when using these means.
The Main Cyber Attacks In Digital Marketing
The form and purpose of attacks may vary, but the result is always the same: trouble and a lot of headaches for you and your team.
The best way to deal with scams is to prevent yourself from cybersecurity. Some simple attitudes can be very effective, you know?
Check out the main attacks on social networks and websites and how to prevent them.
Common Social Media Scams
Whatever the social media or communication platform – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp, and others – it is very important to maintain a healthy presence of your brand.
Some attacks can compromise your Digital Marketing work on these channels. So, check out the details of the main social media scams and what you can do to protect yourself.
Instagram Profile Verification
If you get a message via Direct from the Instagram account promising the verification badge on the network, be very careful!
Instagram account verification is a bureaucratic and time-consuming process that only happens at the user’s request – not the other way around.
If this happens, do not click on links; report and delete the conversation because it could be a scam to clone your WhatsApp number or Instagram profile.
Fake Social Media Notifications
This attack happens outside of social networks but is linked to them. For example, the user receives a message or notification informing them of something new on Instagram or Facebook.
By clicking on the link, the computer or cell phone is invaded by viruses, which can damage the devices and their systems and steal data.
Therefore, never click on links on social media notifications that are not sent directly by the platforms.
Fake Profiles On Social Media
Scammers have been using the names of famous and authoritative people and brands for new attacks.
They pose as well-known figures on the internet and try to sell tickets to events that would be programmed for them. By clicking on the links, guests can have their data stolen, and their WhatsApp account cloned.
WhatsApp Cloning
Scams happen, in many cases, by clicking on dubious links. Two-factor verification on WhatsApp is one of the most effective measures to ensure account security.
Instagram Account Cloning
As with the messaging app, Instagram accounts are repeatedly cloned. Cybersecurity tips are the same: avoid links from dubious sources and enable 2-factor authentication on this channel.
Common Scams On Business Websites
In addition to the scams that happen with profiles on social networks, attacks on business websites are quite common.
Data theft and compromised access are some of the main consequences. See what some scams are and how to protect your web address.
Brute Force Attacks
With brute force attacks, scammers try to invade your website and steal precious company data through several access attempts. In this case, the good old-fashioned strong password is one of the main ways to stay safe.
Malware
Malicious code that invades your website is called malware. The attack can happen in several ways. The consequences are page alteration, access difficulties, and even loss of domain.
To protect yourself against Malicious Software attacks, keep strong passwords, do not click on dubious links, and implement a captcha for interactions on your site.
Also, keep your site’s content management system up to date. If you use WordPress, for example, ensure it’s the latest version and keep your plugins up to date.
SQL Injection
This scam uses loopholes in systems whose database uses SQL commands. The scammer manages to insert an improper SQL statement and, in this way, gets any data from the hacked database.
Creating technical permission restrictions for database access, specific instances, and operating systems can be a way to protect yourself from these attacks.
Dealing with SQL Injection requires technical knowledge. So, enlist the help of a technology professional to solve this problem.
Cross-Site Scripting
In cross-site scripting, the attacker injects JavaScript code into a user’s browser, which will be used as an intermediary for the propagation of the scam.
In this case, the consequences of the attack can be diverse, generating information theft and phishing attacks, for example.
Preventive actions are techniques such as using and configuring Encoding and Validation, Antixss libraries, and Content Security Policy (CSP). Talk to your programmer or Technology support to accomplish these tasks.
Website Code Attack
This scam uses a PHP script to attack an application written in that language. With this, various data and information can be exposed to the scammer, facilitating their action.
To prevent these attacks, the site must receive some care. You need to be extra careful when uploading forms (one of the main targets of episodes) and use functions such as “veal” and “preg_replace” with caution. Again, it’s worth contacting your technical team to verify these actions.
DDoS Attack
The denial of service attack makes it difficult for users to access your website by making pages unavailable.
You can protect yourself from them by applying blackhole routing, disabling or modifying network protocol settings, and adopting an effective anti-DDoS solution. Talk to your programmer or Technology support to learn how to protect yourself from this attack.