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LOS ANGELES - Bank robbers are no longer seen as masterminds plotting heists, but as fools who leave their IDs behind or go online to upload videos bragging about their hauls.
The Washington Post reports that in the past 25 years, robberies have dropped off by 60 percent. In fact, the average robber is essentially earning the same as a minimum wage worker, according to the data.
Now criminals are trading in their ski masks and get-away cars for their computers.
In 2015 cyber thieves made off with a reported $1 billion. Experts say it’s not likely that cybercrime will be eradicated in our lifetime, but the FBI has some good advice.
-Use two-factor authentication- where access to accounts has a requirement in addition to the password, like a physical trait or a PIN.
-Limit what you share on social media- post as little personal information as possible. Even with the highest security settings, sensitive data can still be leaked.
-Avoid signing into bank accounts, e-mail, or social media accounts while on a public WiFi hotspot- those networks aren’t always secure.
-And as always, use different passwords for all your accounts, but also continue to change them throughout the year.
The internet is bad news for stupid criminals, but it's an absolute treasure trove for the smart ones.