Protect Yourself from Cybercrime

December 6, 2017

Jody Levy

Cybercrimes in Jamaica aren't taken nearly as seriously as other common criminal activities, solely on the basis that these crimes occur online. However, with the direction society is heading in, with an unusual dependence on technology and digital networking, the impact of these crimes grows stronger every day.

Cybercrimes take many different shapes and forms. One doesn't fall victim to cybercrimes from only e-shopping, or oversharing on social media. The truth is, once you're connected to The Internet, you are at risk. According to Senior Advisor in the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, Trevor Forrest, Jamaica lost up to $100 Million in 2016 as a result of cybercrimes. This is a clear indication that Jamaica's cybersecurity is lacking, and must be improved posthaste to stand a chance in this digitized world.

There are many protective and preventative measures that can be taken to ensure that one does not fall prey to the cyber criminals of the World Wide Web, and with the introduction of a new National Identification System (NIDS), now may be the best time to put some of these measures into practice.