Is it possible to hack a trader's account?
Stock trading is fraught with dangers, but beyond the risk of unfavorable exchange rate movements, traders can also face other problems.
One such possibility is account hacking and theft of deposited funds by transferring them to someone else's account or payment system wallet.
While such incidents are rare, they do occur, and it's best to avoid them, especially since they're relatively easy to avoid.
Simply follow a few important online security rules, which we'll discuss below.
The main ways accounts can be hacked are:
• Stealing passwords from your personal account – this is one of the easiest ways to gain access to your account, even if it doesn't have additional security.
There may also be other ways to trick you into visiting a fake website and entering your password. This allows the attacker to gain access to your trader's account, and what they do there is a matter of technique.
How to deal with this?
It's quite simple: try to remember the broker's exact website address and always pay attention to the address bar when logging in. Ideally, it should look like this:
The most important thing to pay attention to is the lock in front of the address, which indicates that the connection is established via the https protocol, meaning it is secure.
Unlike regular websites or blogs, this is the connection used by brokers .
• Stealing passwords from your computer is also a common option, which is possible if you store passwords on your computer and get a virus or Trojan program.
As a result, the fraudster will be able to easily log into your account and gain access to your accounts.
How to deal with this?
Store passwords in a password-protected archive, and the archive itself on a flash drive, which is connected only when logging into your account.
Don't forget about basic security measures, such as antivirus software. A full computer virus scan should be performed at least once a week.
• Hacking your mailbox - usually done using emails with attached files, which, when opened, steal your email passwords.
Then the attacker visits your broker's website and requests a password reset via email. The standard scenario follows.
How can this be combated?
Do not open emails from unknown recipients, and especially do not open attached files. You should also avoid requests to change your email password, as this could redirect you to a fake email site.
• SMS message interception is the most unpleasant and dangerous option, when someone gains the ability to intercept your messages.
There are two ways to do this: install a Trojan on your phone or obtain a new SIM card for your number using fake documents.
The danger is that by intercepting SMS messages, it's possible to hack not only your brokerage account but also your bank account.
How can you prevent this?
Ensure that your phone's antivirus software is always active, and don't grant access to your email or Google account to untrustworthy programs downloaded from the internet.
Don't leave copies of your documents anywhere, and don't lose the documents themselves.
Nowadays, it is important to be especially careful about computer security, especially if you use the internet to access your money.
