The Norton Cybercrime Report was released today in Singapore, and uncovered some startling statistics about mobile and social networking cybercrime in Singapore. Per CNET Asia:

• “12 percent of social network users reported someone had hacked into their profile and pretended to be them.
• 12 percent of social network users said they had fallen victim to a scam or fake link on social network platforms.
• While 80 percent believe that cybercriminals are setting their sights on social networks, less than half (46 percent) actually use a security solution which protects them from social network threats and only 55 percent use the privacy settings to control what information they share, and with whom.
• Nearly one-third (31 percent) of mobile users received a text message from someone they didn’t know requesting that they click on an embedded link or dial an unknown number to retrieve a ‘voicemail’.”

The report also found, somewhat surprisingly, that males between the ages of 18-31are the most likely to fall victim to cybercrime. This younger demographic is typically regarded to be savvier when it comes to discerning between scams and reality, so this finding came as a bit of a shock.

It’s also jarring to see the percentage of Singaporeans that don’t utilize security settings on social networking sites like Facebook. There are easily available, and free, security options at Facebook users’ disposal, but so few people utilize them. Ask any victim of cybercrime and they’ll tell you it’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you or someone you know need help configuring your Facebook privacy and account settings, then check out our guide:

How to Lockdown Your Facebook Account For Maximum Privacy and Security

Recommended Resources

BitDefender Safego is a Facebook application you can install that will scan your News Feed and help keep you safe from scams on Facebook.

PRIVATE WiFi® is a Personal VPN that encrypts everything you send and receive. Don’t access Facebook from a public WiFi hotspot without it.

Do Not Track + is a FREE browser plugin created by Abine. This easy to install plugin keeps websites from tracking you. If you value your online privacy, then you should definitely take advantage of this free product.

Action Alert | Free Parental Control offers a 100% free Internet safety solution designed for parents. There is also a Maximum Protection option for parents that need a more advanced set of tools.