Tech Teacher

Author/Source: Fortra See the full link here

Takeaway

This article explains a warning from the FBI about a big increase in online account theft. You’ll learn what account takeover fraud is, how criminals do it, and what steps you can take to protect your own online accounts from being stolen.

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Technical Subject Understandability

Intermediate

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Analogy/Comparison

Imagine someone stealing the keys to your house and then using them to get into your home and take your things or pretend to be you. Account takeover is like that, but for your online accounts.

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Why It Matters

This type of fraud is important because it can lead to people losing money or having their identity stolen. For example, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has received many reports about these schemes, showing how common and serious the problem is for many individuals.

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Related Terms

Account Takeover (ATO), malicious actor, phishing, malware, social engineering, credential stuffing, multi-factor authentication (MFA), endpoint protection, incident response plan. Jargon Conversion: Account Takeover (ATO) means when a bad person gets into your online accounts without your permission. A malicious actor is a bad person trying to cause harm. Phishing is tricking you with fake emails or messages to get your login info. Malware is harmful software that infects your devices. Social engineering is tricking people into giving up information or access. Credential stuffing is trying stolen usernames and passwords on many different websites. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an extra security step, like a code from your phone, to prove it’s you. Endpoint protection is security for devices like computers and phones. An incident response plan is a guide for what to do if a security problem happens.