Guide to protection from cybersecurity risks in Canada

When the entire world was shut down, the digital world was afloat and how. But at the same time, some malicious acts were being warranted by suspicious scammers all across the world. The risks in Canada, however, catapulted into another epidemic of some kind.

Basically, scammers and hackers were in full swing during the COVID-19 pandemic as they continued to exploit victims by tricking them into falling prey to malware scams. This was done viciously via phishing campaigns and compromised credentials. Of course, other methods were also optimized, resulting in havoc on the digital space.

It’s one thing to suggest that cybercrime was at an all-time high during the pandemic and a completely different story when you look at the facts. Did you know that roughly 57% of Canadians have reported falling prey to cybercrime activity during the first year of the pandemic?

These schemes were malicious to another level and led to all sorts of disruptive outputs for individuals as well as businesses and organizations. The most common victims were the health sector because it was not only under the spotlight at the time but also under tremendous amounts of pressure.

If only, Canadians had used at the time, the problem wouldn’t be as big as it turned out to be in the end. VPNs are the best tool to protect yourself against online threats. However, those who’re running low on budget can get free VPNs to secure your privacy in Canada by VPNRanks.

Mind you, free VPN services might not work the same way as the premium ones. They may lack security features, server infrastructure, or limit you with bandwidth cap or whatnot. If you want to way have limitless security without any compromises, we always suggest premium VPNs.

But if you still opt for a free VPN service, make sure to get it from a trusted source, as mentioned above. In this article, we will discuss how Canadians can protect themselves from such cybercrime activities and run their operations online smoothly.

The 3 Most Common Types of Cyberattacks on Canadians

When you get to start studying the world of cybercrime and digital intricacies, you’ll come to the realization that cyberattacks are extremely complex and difficult to pull off. They are also the most common form of criminal activity in the current day of digital supremacy.

Once you understand that, you’ll be interested in knowing the most common types of cyberattacks that were being targeted at Canadians during the pandemic. Well, we have explained all three for you below.

Health Sector – Brutal Ranson Attacks

As we said earlier, the pandemic was a rough period for Canada as its digital space was a constant target of cybercrime activity. Now, the health sector took a massive beating as it was being targetted for ransomware regularly. In fact, these attacks were elevated to new heights, and honestly new lows, when they held patient medical records and medical research. The attempts were made to hijack operating devices and steal information to commit fraud on hospitals, labs, and clinical funding.

Relief Payments Were Stolen

GCKey is an online portal local to the Canadian Government that the hackers targeted to steal all the relief payments transferred through the credentials stuffing. Wondering how these attacks occur so easily? Well, there’s always a loophole in the system that these hackers find out so efficiently. These hackers opted for stolen usernames and passcodes that were made available on a variety of websites.

This information was then used to find the email accounts, and tracking was done via similar log-in credentials. This was made possible since these websites don’t seek the two-factor authentication key.

This is exactly why online privacy should be taught in school. There are so many ways you could at least increase your privacy online and protect yourself from compromising and vulnerable situations. If only people understand the importance of using fake email addresses while surfing third-party websites or shopping online.

And if only, these sites conducted two-factor authentication models, such advances would never be made in the world of hacking and malware.

Fake COVID-19 Tracing Apps

Now this one was not done without planning due to the sophisticated nature of the malware. This was obviously a massive ransomware threat that played with the sensitivity of the situation and the vulnerability of the victims at the time. People were obviously tricked into believing that there was an app that could help them trace whether or not they have been in contact with a person carrying the COVID-19 bodies.

It obviously worked because people ended up downloading it, which eventually encrypted their data and locked them out of their own devices. Now the only way they were given access to their device again was by paying the ransom.

Of course, these attacks are pre-planned and attack organizations targeting confidential data, funding, and much more. Thus, it’s best to practice protection and apply filters and security checkups regularly.

How to Increase Protection and Secure Yourself from Cybercrime?

Now that we’re made aware of the malicious activities that go down when we put our guard down, we’re prepared and enlightened enough to know that cybersecurity is a matter of priority. And so, here are some ways you can ensure utmost protection and safety online.

Backup Infrastructure

The most important method to implicate here is to have a backup infrastructure. This is extremely important for businesses and industries where information is power. If you have a backup infrastructure in place, you wouldn’t have to worry about paying ransom to gain back its access.

Subscribe To A VPN

By investing in a VPN, you can solve many issues simultaneously. The most crucial gift that a VPN offers is that of encryption and security. If you have subscribed to a premium VPN, no matter what you do online, your presence will be protected at all costs.

You may be tempted to use a free VPN service, but they don’t perform as efficiently as the premium ones. Besides, who are we to complain? We are not paying for it, or are we? Hence, your safest bet is to trust a legitimate and premium VPN service provider for robust and utmost security.

Keep Different Passwords

This is obviously one of those nerdy tips out there but an essential one at that. We touched bases with this tip earlier but it must be emphasized once again due to the level of significance it brings. If you have different passwords for different accounts online, it will be difficult to track your secured personal information and trap you into hacking or ransomware.

Two-Factor Authentication

Alway enable and activate the two-factor authentication method on your online accounts. This is a security measure that functions as a second layer of protection and gives you time to gain access back. This trick quickly notifies you if your account is ever vulnerable to threats.

In Conclusion

Online security is of utmost importance in this modern-day age. You’re constantly being threatened with extortion and ransomware and you must heighten your security measures to ensure safety. By following the tips mentioned above, you can upgrade your safety measures and potentially save yourself from embarrassment, anxiety, or any other difficult situation.

Todayville Content Team

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Todayville Content Team works with a wide variety of clients to develop compelling content solutions. Our experienced team develops strategic campaigns that use video and storytelling, digital advertising and social media to help our clients position and distinguish themselves in the market.

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Cannabis and Anxiety: Is it Actually a Good Match?

Published on January 27, 2023

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It’s pretty widespread that cannabis helps relieve a wide range of physical and mental health conditions, and it has been a common way of coping with anxiety and stress for many people. However, the relationship between cannabis and anxiety is pretty complicated because of debates among experts, and it’s better to learn more about the current research on the use of cannabis for anxiety and check an overview of the potential benefits and risks.

Compounds

One of the main compounds found in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the drug’s psychoactive effects. THC works by binding to receptors in the endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for regulating mood, pain, and other bodily functions. Studies have found that THC can help to reduce anxiety symptoms, particularly in individuals with specific forms of anxiety, such as social anxiety disorder.

On the other hand, another compound found in cannabis is cannabidiol (CBD), which does not produce psychoactive effects. CBD can also help reduce anxiety symptoms, and it has been effective in treating anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

There are many cannabis strains that have different content of THC and CBD, and that’s why it’s better to consult a specialist in advance and use something that’s more likely to help you cope with your mental health condition.

Other side of cannabis

However, it is important to note that while some studies have shown that cannabis can be beneficial in reducing anxiety symptoms, others have found that it can actually worsen them. The reason for that is that the effects of cannabis can vary greatly depending on the individual and that different strains of cannabis can have different effects. Additionally, some people may be too sensitive to the psychoactive effects of THC, which can make their anxiety symptoms worse.

You should also consider that cannabis use can lead to addiction, especially among heavy users, and it can impair cognitive function, particularly memory and attention. Long-term use of cannabis may also lead to chronic bronchitis, poor lung function, and a higher risk of mental health issues such as depression and psychosis. Even though self-medicating with cannabis is getting pretty widespread, it’s recommended to talk to a medical professional to avoid struggling with side effects.

Furthermore, the legal implications of using cannabis are necessary to check in advance. While some states and countries have legalized cannabis for medical or recreational purposes, it remains outlawed in many other places. It’s essential to be aware of the cannabis regulations in your area before using it for any medical conditions to avoid having problems with the law.

Summary

Cannabis is not a universal solution when it comes to coping with anxiety symptoms. It’s better to consult a medical specialist, start with a low dosage, and work with reputable and legal sources like WestCoastSupply to order weed online and be sure that you get high-quality products. Moreover, you can check the lab test results to ensure that it is free of any harmful contaminants and that it has the right level of THC and CBD since these compounds have different effects on the body and mind. Also, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks, especially for those with a history of addiction or mental health issues.

Keep in mind that cannabis use should be part of a comprehensive treatment plan, and it should not replace traditional therapy and medication for anxiety disorders.

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How To Save Money On Life Insurance in Canada

Published on January 26, 2023

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For many people in Canada life insurance isn’t a priority in their youth. Some of these individuals only start thinking of or considering insurance after attaining a certain age, which shouldn’t be the case at all. Although you might be neutral about it, it is highly advisable to consider or even get life insurance as soon as you start your career or have dependents. Although you might be young and healthy, you never know what the future holds, which is a reason you need to think/buy life cover.

Whatever your age or income is, getting life insurance is one of the best decisions you can ever make. This will help take care of your loved ones, especially during unfortunate times of need, cushioning them for some time until they can get back on their feet. It is also worth noting that life insurance comes in different packages and can be customized to suit one’s age, financial, and lifestyle needs. However, it would help if you window-shopped and researched the best life insurance in Canada before settling for the most appropriate and affordable one that fits your unique needs. Life insurance doesn’t have to be expensive. Below are a few tips and tricks on saving money on life insurance.

Stay/Live Healthy

Make an effort to stay healthy and keep fit, and your premium costs will be much lower than anyone that doesn’t mind their health or physical fitness. This, however, entails keeping an eye on everything from the foods you eat (nutrition), leading an active lifestyle or exercising, managing stress, and getting enough sleep. Keeping your body weight in check and avoiding certain lifestyles/habits, including heavy alcohol consumption, smoking, etc., will help keep premium rates at the bare minimum.

Buy The Right Coverage

Consider buying just ‘enough’ life cover based on your health and specific needs. This is especially important at the beginning, where you can upgrade the coverage as needed. An excellent example of this is if you don’t have a family or dependents, the minimum life cover would be just OK. You can upgrade the coverage as years go by and have a family and people that look up to you.

Pay Upfront

Paying all your annual premiums upfront (in one lump sum) could also save you some money. One reason for this is that some insurance companies add service fees and other charges to each payment, making it a bit more expensive in the long run if you pay in smaller amounts or throughout the year. Be sure to look out for these charges with your preferred insurance company before paying in one lump sum.

Choose And Maintain a Term Life Policy

Term and permanent life insurance are the two most common and preferred life insurance policies. Term life insurance is designed to provide cover for a certain/determined period or specific needs. This can be in the form of years or paying for something, say college or a mortgage. It often is the most flexible and affordable, with some converting it to permanent insurance as time goes by. Permanent life insurance, on the other hand, is designed to last a lifetime and only pays benefits upon the holder’s death. Although a nice option, you could save a lot by choosing term life and then servicing it through.

Research On Different Policies/Features/Providers

Window shopping for different providers also makes it easier to compare various features and policies offered by the same. Some insurance providers will provide more features on specific policies than others. That said, you might want to focus on providers offering feature-rich policies but at an affordable rate. Comparing policies and features offered by different providers will give you the upper hand in determining the best one to buy from.

Combine Policies with Your Spouse

Some insurance providers offer discounts for those that buy/combine policies with their spouses through the same company.

Add Your Child’s Insurance to Your Policy

A good number of providers and policies also allow parents to add their children’s insurance to their policy. One of the advantages of combining such is that all your kids will be insured under one policy for a unit price, saving you a lot in the long run. The kids can, however, choose to transfer the insurance to an individual policy after attaining the legal age (21).

Buy Life Insurance Early

Although you might know this, life insurance premiums cost much more for older adults than youths. This is because older adults are considered higher risk than the younger generation, a reason a youngster will pay less in life insurance premiums than their parents. Getting life insurance at a tender age could also help keep your premiums low.

These are some of the ways you can save money on life insurance. You can also find out more about this from your preferred insurance provider.