As Aussies take to online activity in droves, Norton has launched what could help consumers steer clear of unsafe sites and dodgy search terms, while preventing ID theft and scams.
The Norton Cybercrime Index is a platform which tracks and warns computer users about daily cybercrime risks around the world, including the day’s most dangerous websites, the most hijacked search terms by cybercriminals, as well as top scams, identity theft and spam.
The free tool includes expert news about the day’s most dangerous threat and advice on how to avoid it to stay safe online.
Adam Palmer, Norton lead cyber security advisor, commented: “Most of us go online daily to work, play and socialise and yet it’s one of the most dangerous activities we engage in, because there are so many threats lurking online.”
According to the company, whether people have ten seconds or two minutes, the Norton Cybercrime Index can give them the information they need to make smart decisions online and stay out of trouble.
It indicates a threat level for the day, which tells computer users at a glance whether the Internet is more dangerous than it was 24 hours ago.
A 30 second check will also let you find out the day’s most hijacked search terms, and which websites are the most dangerous, so you can stay away from those terms and sites.
Consumers can then opt to take a deeper dive into the data to see exactly how cybercriminals are trying to take advantage of people online on any given day.
Tom Oscherwitz, chief privacy officer of ID Analytics, said: “Many people are leaving themselves wide open to identity fraud by sharing private information online, such as their birth date or home town. We see the results of this risky behavior with our unique real-time visibility into identity activity.”
ID Analytics is one of Norton’s collaborators in helping to provide consumers with daily insight into their risk level for cybercrime and how they can better protect themselves and their identities online.
Palmer said: “Our goal is to have people add the Norton Cybercrime Index to their daily routine to get a clear understanding of the dangers that are threatening them online and to take preventative action to avoid falling victim.”
