27 Sep 2023
You might know the countless benefits of digitalisation that have eased almost every aspect of your life, but do you know the dangers that are associated with your online activities? Typically, everyone is vulnerable to online theft, but people living in foreign countries are more prone to attacks by hackers. For instance, like people from other developing nations, 5+ million Moroccans live abroad, out of which more than 487,000 reside in Italy, a top European country for expats. Moroccans who work and earn there to send money to Morocco from Italy must be aware of malware and viruses that can potentially harm their money transfers and other online activities. The biggest dangers to online users in the modern cyber world include Trojan horses, computer worms, file viruses, ransomware, rootkits, various spy codes, and other malware. Additionally, they put your electronic devices in danger, whether laptops and desktops or mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
Hackers are extremely dangerous because they have the ability to steal your money-sensitive information, control your devices, infect them with viruses, or spy on your behaviour. As a result, you should maintain the security of your devices to lower the likelihood of malware infections. Here are some tips on how to spot, get rid of, and prevent malware.
It is imperative to take preventative measures to safeguard yourself from malware and viruses if you are a Moroccan expat living in Europe. You can improve your online security by following these crucial steps:
Your devices should be equipped with reliable antivirus software, which you should keep updated. This software can assist in detecting and eliminating viruses, malware, and other harmful threats.
Turn on the firewall on your devices to add an extra line of defence against intrusive access and malicious activity. Firewalls protect Your devices from potential threats and monitor and manage incoming and outgoing network traffic.
Maintain the most recent security patches and bug fixes by routinely updating your operating system, web browsers, and other software programs. Upgrades to security are frequently included in software updates, helping to shield your devices from known flaws.
Be wary of clicking links or opening email attachments that come from sources you don't know or are otherwise dubious of. Verify the source and legitimacy of any such content before interacting with it, as malware and viruses can be spread through email attachments and links.
Create strong, individual passwords for your online accounts to send money to Morroco online from Italy. Keep your name and birthdate away from using information that could be easily guessed. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords for your various accounts securely.
Stay alert for phishing attacks, where criminals attempt to trick you into disclosing private information like passwords or financial information. Sites that request personal or confidential information should be avoided. You should independently confirm the validity of such requests by taking action, such as by getting in touch with the requested organisation.
If you have a wireless network at home, ensure it is encrypted and password-protected. This aids in preventing unauthorised users from accessing your network and potentially compromising your devices.
When using websites and using the internet, use caution. Stick to reputable and trusted websites when sharing sensitive information or conducting online transactions. Beware of pop-up ads or suspicious downloads, and stay away from downloading files from shady sources.
Regularly back up crucial documents and data to a secure external hard drive, the cloud, or another location. Having backups ensures that your important data can be restored without suffering a significant loss in the event of malware or virus infection.
When someone hacks into someone's email account and correctly guesses or discovers the answer to a security question, they can intercept an online money transfer from Italy to Morocco and steal money. This is known as e-transfer fraud. Once they have personally deposited the funds, the intended recipient never receives them.
E-transfer scams typically involve people requesting money from you (either for themselves or so they can buy something from you) or requesting charitable contributions. An excellent illustration of this is the coronavirus scam, in which many victims were asked to send money via electronic transfer to pay for testing kits, PPE, and vaccines that were never delivered.
There are numerous security precautions to ensure that e-transfers are protected, including the following:
Data is, therefore, encoded several times to ensure that others cannot read it even if it is stolen or compromised while being transmitted to the intended recipient.
Reputable e-transfer businesses demand that you respond to security questions, provide a special code, or prove your identity. This is being done to protect your money transfer(s). Fraud can happen when money is sent to an untrustworthy recipient or when logging in with a new device. You may need to read how to stay safe when sending money online to avoid this kind of fraud.
It can be a sign that a provider is taking precautions to keep your money secure if they ask you for a secure password or log you out automatically after a certain time.
The Automated Clearing House (ACH), a private organisation that provides secure financial data transmission, processes all online banking transactions, including services for online money transfers, in the United States.
It's crucial to remember that specific statistics on the effect of malware and viruses on online money transfers can change depending on the region, period, and data sources. It is advised to consult cybersecurity reports, research papers, or trustworthy sources like financial institutions and cybersecurity organisations to access the most precise and recent statistics on this subject.
Bottom Line
By adhering to these security precautions, you can significantly lower your risk of malware and virus infections as a Moroccan expat in Europe. To protect your personal and financial data, be watchful, take precautions, and prioritise online security. ACE Money Transfer provides the most secure and scam-free money transfer from Italy to Morroco.
FAQs
How can I defend against malware and viruses?
Use an anti-malware application – Installing and maintaining an anti-malware application can protect your PC from viruses and other malware (malicious software). Free anti-malware software called Microsoft Defender comes preinstalled with Windows and receives regular updates via Windows Update.
Can a money transfer be hacked?
Fraudsters are able to redirect and deposit e-Transfer transactions to their accounts by using stolen personal information and correctly guessing security questions. Knowing your obligations as a sender and recipient will help you protect your accounts.
Where can you find malware?
Malicious software, emails, and websites are frequently used to spread malware. Additionally, malware can be hidden in other files, such as image or document files, or even in files that appear innocent at first glance, like “.exe files”.
What causes malware primarily?
However, you can also become infected through emails, texts, and even your Bluetooth connection. Some obvious offenders include clicking on a dubious link or downloading an unreliable app. Worms and other malware can also spread from one infected phone to another without the user's involvement.
What is banking malware?
Malicious software made specifically to steal money is known as banking malware. It can infect computers and smartphones and is specifically designed to steal user credentials from unwary users to gain unauthorised access to trading apps, cryptocurrency wallets, and banking applications.
