A MitM attack is a form of eavesdropping where an attacker intercepts a connection between two systems. This is a major risk on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.

Tech support scams use fear tactics, like fake virus warnings, to trick people into believing there is a problem with their computer. The scammers then charge for unnecessary or fraudulent "repairs."

Vishing, or voice phishing, is the fraudulent practice of making phone calls or leaving voice messages purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information.

The success of social engineering lies in its ability to exploit fundamental human emotions and cognitive biases. It's often easier to trick a person than to hack a computer system.

Accepting friend requests from strangers can expose your personal information to scammers and social engineers who may be using fake profiles to gather data on potential targets.

Malvertising involves injecting malicious code into legitimate online advertising networks. These malicious ads can compromise your computer even if you don't click on them, simply by being displayed on a webpage you visit.

Whaling is a specific type of spear phishing attack that targets high-profile employees, such as senior executives or C-level managers, to steal sensitive information.

While technology and tools are helpful, the human factor is the most critical element of cybersecurity. A vigilant and educated user who questions what they see online is the best defense against the vast majority of threats.

URL shorteners hide the true destination of a link. Using a URL expander tool (many are available online) will show you the full URL before you click, allowing you to check if it looks suspicious.

Having a recent backup of your files is the best defense against ransomware. The 3-2-1 backup rule (3 copies, on 2 different media, with 1 off-site) is a good guideline. Emailing files to yourself is not a robust backup solution.