Dear Editor,
Due to the advancement of technology, there are many new electronic products, which are created every day. However, if people do not carefully manage their electronic devices, they will fall prey to hackers’ traps. In this article, I would like to discuss the possible hi-tech crimes and provide some safety measures to keep us safe from these crimes.
In the cyber world, there are many wicked scammers who would set up traps to steal people’s personal information. First, it is easy for the scammers to commit crimes from the social networking sites. Nowadays, it is common for people to post their personal photos and private information on the Facebook. The scammers will try to hack into their account to obtain victims’ personal information, such as their friends’ contact and email address, and sell the personal information to unscrupulous businessmen for illegal purposes. They may suffer financial loss if they lack the security awareness.
Second, there are crimes related to the online chat. These days, it is common for people to make friends online. Through the conversation, the swindlers would try to get the acceptance and trust. Subsequently, they will induce the victims to send their naked photos or videos to them. As a result, they will blackmail the victims to remit money to them or their naked photos or videos will be posted on the Internet.
In order to keep people safe from the hi-tech crimes, there are some suggestions for the general public. First, Internet users should not open the unknown emails or messages as they may be sent by the criminals. Next, never should we provide our personal information to the strangers because the scammers may steal our information to commit crimes. Moreover, under no circumstance should we send the naked photos and video to our friends or even strangers. Otherwise, we would easily be the targets of the scammers. We may fall prey to traps and the swindles will blackmail us. To keep us safer, all our electronic devices should be installed with firewall and anti-virus software. As a result, we can avoid being cheated by the scammers.
It is hoped that people can carefully manage their information on the Internet and do not fall prey to the scammers’ traps.
Yours faithfully,
Lung Yan 5D
HHCKLA Buddhist Ching Kok Secondary School