Image: Cyber crimes are responsible for billions of dollars in damages each year in Canada. / peopleimages / dreamstime

By Fraser Valley Today Staff

cyber security

Abbotsford police warn residents of the dangers of cyber criminals

Aug 17, 2024 | 8:00 AM

ABBOTSFORD — Between 2014 and 2022, the number of cyber-related crimes reported to Canadian police increased by nearly 400 per cent. This is why the Abbotsford Police Department is warning residents about the hazards of cyber criminals.

AbbyPD has released a series of tips to help residents navigate past cyber criminals without falling victim to their many traps. The first tip is to use strong passwords. According to Cyber Safe Canada, a strong and unique password is the first step in keeping you and your information safe.

AbbyPD also suggests setting your social media accounts to private. McAfee, a global leader in security software, advises clients to set accounts for Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms to private to keep the broader internet from seeing what you’re doing, saying, and posting, thereby helping to protect your privacy.

When visiting a website, AbbyPD says ensuring the website is secure will help protect you. According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, your first step in determining if a website is secure is by checking the URL. A secure URL should begin with “https” rather than “http.” The “s” in “https” stands for secure.

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While connecting to a public Wi-Fi system may sound convenient, AbbyPD warns it can also come with risks. According to the website PrivacyCanada.net, an unencrypted network easily allows hackers to access your data, such as your banking information if you log into your banking app.

AbbyPD also encourages residents to always be wary of scams when checking their email. It says never reply to suspicious emails, especially when you are asked to verify information such as your user ID or password.

According to the global data platform Statista, cyber crime was responsible for approximately $3.8 billion USD in damages in Canada last year. That figure is expected to grow to approximately $4.8 billion USD by the year 2028.