Avoid Cyber-Fraud this Holiday Season

Getting your Christmas shopping done online is becoming the norm these days. Not only is it easy and convenient, but you also won’t have to deal with the horrible crowds, traffic and crazy long lines!

However, it also excites criminals who are lurking online, waiting to scam people.

DLA has put together five tips to keep you safe this holiday season:

>> know the scams

Never open links or emails from strange email addresses. It’s always best to question emails and double check if they are actually legit, such as your bank.

Stay safe online by reading up on the latest scams and avoid becoming a victim of cyber-fraud.

>> install a firewall

A firewall isn’t always 100 percent safe, but it is a much-needed layered security.  The software filters and keeps you safe from malware and downloads.

Windows offers a built-in firewall, but if you are looking for something else there are some great free firewall software suites online.

>> choose a strong password

If you use the most commonly known passwords out there – password, qwerty, 123456789 – then don’t be surprised when hackers take control.

It is best to try add numbers, capital letters, special characters and always use different passwords for different accounts.

>> check the URL

When shopping online, always check the URL of the website you’re on. Safe online sites will have a little green lock in the address bar which shows you that your personal data will be protected.

Always keep an eye out for the green padlock to ensure your safety online.

>> back up your data on a regular basis

Ransomware can be vicious and aggressive, so regular data backups should always be a part of your cyber-security strategy.

It is easier to restore your device to a previous backup, than pay an exorbitant ransom amount to unlock your data, which most of the time doesn’t even work!

Cyber-fraud is a global problem with attacks happening daily and Christmas is no exception. Identity theft, banking fraud and malware are common place in today’s digital society. Criminals seek out opportunities every day of the year to defraud you, so be vigilant this festive season and keep an eye out for any fraudulent behaviour online!

What is a forensic audit, and why do they require digital forensic services?

Here at DLA, some of our top clients include forensic auditors, as they require our digital forensic services for their forensic audits. But what exactly is a forensic audit and what does it mean?

Read on to explore and find out what a forensic audit is, when they are used and how they are used in court…

A forensic audit may sound like something quite exciting that you’ve probably heard on crime dramas like CSI and Law and Order, but the truth is, it is a little more boring.

A forensic audit is the process of reviewing person’s or companies financial statements to determine if they are correct and lawful. Forensic accounting is most commonly associated with tax audits, but can also be commissioned by private companies for digital forensic investigations.

So, when are forensic audits used? Forensic audits are used wherever an entity’s finances present a legal concern. For example, it is used in cased of suspected embezzlement, fraud, to investigate a spouse during divorce proceedings and so much more. This is where digital forensics comes in; our services are specifically designed to help forensic auditors in these cases.

Forensic audits are performed by a class of professionals with skills in both criminology and accounting, so they specialize in following a money trail, keeping track of fraudulent and actual balance sheets and checking for mistakes in income reports and expenditures. If they find any discrepancies, it may be the forensic auditor’s job to investigate and determine the reason for it, with the help of a digital investigator if digital evidence is needed!

How are forensic audits used in court? They are presented as evidence by a prosecutor or by a lawyer representing an interested party. Because finance is so complicated, the way a forensic auditor will describe a company’s financial position is often very precise. Because of this a prosecutor or lawyer will call an expert witness to explain the forensic audit in simpler terms in order to build a case.

Forensic audits cover a wide range of activities, and they can be a part of many different investigations, digital forensic investigations being one of them.