Symantec, recently released its findings from the Norton Cybersecurity Insights Report which sheds light on the truths of online crime and the personal effect it has on consumers in Malaysia.

According to the report, 56 percent of consumers believed it’s more likely to have their credit card information stolen after shopping online rather than out of their wallets. More than six in 10 (59 percent) of Malaysians believe using public Wi-Fi is riskier than using a public restroom.

Choon Hong Chee, Director, Asia Consumer Business, Norton by Symantec, commented: “Cyber attackers are not slowing down. They are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to steal consumers’ personal information such as passwords, contact information and banking credentials to fill their coffers. As consumers in Malaysia adapt to the fast-evolving digital world, we encourage them to take proactive measures to safeguard their information online and not become complacent about security.”

Below are a few tips to stay safe online, brought to you by Norton:

• Choose a unique, smart, secure password for each account you have online. For tips on how to do this, click here.
• Delete emails from senders you don’t know, and don’t click on attachments or links on suspicious-looking emails.
• On social media sites if an offer sounds too good to be true, it just might be. Beware of the pitfalls of clicking on links from social media sites. Before clicking, hover the mouse over the link to see its destination. Only click on links that lead to reputable, official company pages.
• Always monitor your financial accounts for unusual activity. If there is a charge that you didn’t make, report it immediately. Often cyber-criminals will charge a small “test” amount before attempting to drain your bank account.
• Don’t put off installing security software such as Norton Security and updating it regularly.
• Use a secure backup solution to protect files and backup regularly so criminals can’t hold them for ransom.