Somebody has hacked my social network account. What to do?
 

First of all, think if the same password in not used somewhere else. If your social network account has been hacked, it is likely that your e-mail address(es) and other data important to you are also known. It happens often that one and the same password is used for several logins. If it is the case, the hacker will be able to get into your e-mail inbox as well. The intention of predators is to gather as much as possible of private information to use for criminal purposes. Consider the situation as soon as possible and, where necessary, change the passwords. Contact the police.
 

It is not important these times what security measures are used. The key security measures are the same (passwords, anti-virus programs, etc.), only details differ. If you buy a computer or a telephone, most of information and recommendations will be provided to you by the manufacturer; if such information is not enough, contact the providers of electronic communication networks (e.g. mobile network operators) or electronic network services (e.g. internet services). Do not buy any software hastily without consultations.
 

Help is certainly possible in this case. It is advisable to use certain controls, for example the parental control function. This program may be also downloaded free of charge. They are suitable both for computers and smart phones. Advantages: a better way to protect your children online; you may see whether your child is not harassed online, block dangerous or improper information, set the hours when the child may use the computer and vice versa, prohibit downloading specific games and applications, ban shopping online, etc.
 

Yes, there are, but they should be truly free of charge rather than cracked/hacked anti-virus programs for payment. A cracked program can be malicious on its own. For example, reliable protection is offered by 360 security, AVAST and others. Select the program responsibly. Some of them take too much of RAM and slow down phone functions. Some advice in relation to internet threats: let us start from a simple firewall pDroid – it will block the transmission of data to the programs and processes which do not need it. Then we should download an anti-virus program from PlayMarket and check its operation by downloading test files (Virus test). Good luck.
 

Although many know about alluring misleading text messages or calls, people still get tricked by similar deceits and fall into the trap of swindlers. According to the data of the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, “telephone” scammers deceive approximately one out of 60 targeted victims. Don’t become one of them! An SMS notifying about a win is one of the many methods of scamming. Calls made by scammers to tell about an accident to your children, parents, brothers, etc. are in particular popular. Here is some advice on what should be done when you get a suspicious text message:

I get messages to my smart phone about free-of-charge software. May I take such offers?
 

Smart phones suffer from “unknown free-of-charge” software rather often. Both children and adults download hastily heaps of such applications and do not read when installing them what authorisations these applications need. When such applications are used, commercials and messages are shown, some of them even very persuasive, e.g., that most likely there is a virus in your phone and an urgent update is necessary (just not known which). In this way the subscriber’s authorisation is tricked out in order to access the whole content of the device. The outcome is that your confidential information is lost. It is necessary to find out what you are intending to download – never use any unclear products. Better use anti-virus programs. These products firewall most of the careless choices of consumers.
 

Do not trust such e-mails or calls. It is likely that it is criminals who, pretending to be bank or other officials, ask you to disclose your secret codes. Be vigilant. Such e-mails are sent only by swindlers willing to get from you secret information. Remember that banks never send e-mails asking their clients to communicate their secret online banking codes. Notify your bank immediately about suspicious calls or e-mails requesting to disclose or confirm your login codes to online banking systems. Do not click on any links in a suspicious e-mail, do not open any attached files and do not respond to such e-mails. If you do as requested by swindlers, you account will be most likely emptied. In this case, report to the police as soon as possible. Do not investigate yourself – it can become an additional obstacle later for the police to investigate the offence in a proper manner.

Where can I potentially get my computer infected with a virus?

It can happen anywhere, even in major websites, though the likelihood of having your computer infected in such sites is lower. The source of a virus can be in e-mail, social website, cooking website, etc. Some search systems can trace if a website is safe or not. You may check if a specific source is safe at www.google.com, e.g.:

http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=https://vartotojai.lt/ (the website address should be put at the end)