October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global initiative to strengthen safe habits in the digital environment. In the Latin American region, cybersecurity risks are specific. According to the latest ESET Security Report 2025, 1 in 4 companies has already suffered a cyberattack in the last year. But it’s not just businesses that are vulnerable, as massive phishing campaigns seek to attract the public and simulate messages from postal companies with supposed delivery problems, or from government agencies communicating nonexistent fines, court summonses, among many other attempts to deceive and generate urgency so that action is taken under pressure.

In this context, ESET, a leading company in proactive threat detection, warns that any user of online services is a target of attack and comments that it is necessary to address some myths that persist about digital security and that can put both personal users and corporate systems at risk.

Security is not just about technology; it is also about process and governance

THE MYTHS:

1. I am not a target because I have nothing of value: It is common for people to believe that cyberattacks only target large companies or public figures. The reality is that any personal data is valuable to cybercriminals, from banking information to email or social media credentials. Digital scams reach millions of ordinary users, regardless of their online profile or relevance.

“Underestimating the risk creates a false sense of security and leads to risky behaviors, such as not enabling multi-factor authentication, using weak passwords, or clicking on suspicious links. These weaknesses are a unique opportunity for attacks that result in data theft, card cloning, account takeovers, or even digital extortion, targeting users who believe they are not targets,” says Camilo Gutiérrez Amaya, Head of the ESET Latin America Research Lab.

2.My antivirus protects me against everything: Antivirus is an important piece of defense, but it doesn’t cover all attack vectors. Social engineering, process failures, poor privilege management, supply chain attacks, and operational visibility gaps are all actions that antivirus alone cannot address.

An example of this occurred in Brazil. The C&M Software case exposed how procedural gaps, a lack of controls, and failures in third-party management allowed resources to be diverted and compromised the organization’s operational security. This demonstrated that security is not just about technology; it’s also about process and governance. Another critical point is that many attacks exploit leaked credentials, human weaknesses, or insecure authorization flows, scenarios in which an antivirus solution fails to prevent the initial intrusion or escalation of access. Therefore, the current defense strategy must be layered.

3. My password is secure, you can use it everywhere: Even if a password is secure, reusing it across multiple services poses a risk. In practice, criminals specialize in automated attacks, such as credential stuffing, where they use leaked email and password combinations to attempt to automatically access other accounts. If the password is the same, access is immediate and silent.

On the other hand, password reuse makes scams like phishing and account takeovers more effective, because cybercriminals can combine information from different services to trick users more convincingly. Even if a platform has strong protection, using the same password on a website with weak security replicates the risk.

“Relying exclusively on strong, unique passwords creates a false sense of security and leaves users vulnerable to hacking, identity theft, and financial fraud. Effective protection requires not only strong passwords, but also a combination of multi-factor authentication, monitoring for suspicious activity, and good credential management practices,” adds Gutiérrez Amaya of ESET.

4. My phone is safe, I only have to worry about my computer: Many people believe their smartphones or tablets are protected because they are smaller or more modern devices, and that cyberattacks don’t affect them. Mobile devices are frequent targets for sophisticated scams, and the risks increase as personal, financial, and professional information is concentrated on them. Effective mobile defense involves strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, being wary of suspicious apps and links, regular updates, and paying attention to unexpected phone calls.

In addition to phishing, vishing, and other social engineering cases, devices—both Android and Apple—are also targets for malware distribution, with fake apps and system vulnerability exploitation that can compromise the device even without direct user interaction. In fact, malicious apps have been identified in the past as remaining undetected in official Google stores for a considerable amount of time. Or, towards the end of 2023, an increase in Android lending apps was noted, which were nothing more than entry points for spyware.

5. Cybersecurity is the sole responsibility of the IT sector: Every user has an essential role in protecting data and systems. Anyone who adopts good practices contributes to strengthening the security of the entire organization or online community. Simple habits such as checking links before clicking, maintaining strong and unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and reporting suspicious activity create effective barriers that complement IT technologies and policies.

The more each person acts consciously, the more resilient the digital ecosystem will be

“When we all get involved, collective awareness becomes a powerful defense, capable of preventing scams, fraud, and invasions, protecting personal and corporate information, and the digital community as a whole. The more each person acts consciously, the more resilient the digital ecosystem will be. It’s important to remember that cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and small habits make a big difference,” concludes the ESET Latin America researcher.

ESET invites you to learn more about cybersecurity by visiting: https://www.welivesecurity.com/es/.

For other useful preventive information, it is also available in Venezuela: https://www.eset.com/ve/, and on its social media @eset_ve. Also available on Instagram (@esetla) and Facebook (ESET).

With information and reference images provided by ESET and Comstat Rowland

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The upward trend in the price of bitcoin during the month of September could extend to reach an all-time high in the month of October, according to cryptocurrency market analysts.

Normally, the ninth month of the year has been favorable for BTC. In 2024, despite the ups and downs in the value of the cryptocurrency, investors and analysts are optimistic.

Traders and analysts are taking into account the possible boost from factors such as the reduction in interest rates and the presidential elections in November in the United States. A “robust stock market” may also be favorable to the main digital asset.

In October, the price of BTC could reach a new all-time high (ATH) “with the breakout of the bearish channel as the key” to give way to a bullish scenario, which could boost the value of bitcoin to $100,000. “If everything follows a logical course, this last quarter we could see bitcoin marking a new ATH, far exceeding $75,000,” the analysts indicate.

M.Pino

Source: criptotendencias

(Reference image source: Getty Images for Unsplash+)

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In October, the thirteen member countries of OPEC increased their oil production to 27.9 million barrels per day, registering an increase of 0.3% compared to September, according to the organization’s monthly report published today.

The report highlights that Angola, Iran and Nigeria were the main drivers of the increase in OPEC production during October. Despite some reductions by other members, such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya and Venezuela, the overall increases did not exceed limits set in previous agreements by OPEC and its allies, including Russia.

Iran, exempt from supply cut commitments, continued to increase its production, reaching 3.1 million barrels per day in October. Despite US sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, its output increased by 30% compared to 2021, reaching levels not seen in years.

The report also projects global oil supply, forecasting that production from non-OPEC countries will reach between 67.59 and 68.88 million barrels per day in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

K. Tovar

Source: Bancaynegocios

(Referential image source: Aleksey Malinovsky, Unsplash)

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The registration of Venezuelans abroad to participate in the primary elections to choose the opposition candidate in Venezuela, scheduled for next October, was activated at the beginning of this month.

According to information this weekend from the National Primary Commission (CNdP) in a statement, in the application activated for registration there are already some 24,800 people who have registered to exercise their right to vote in the primaries, and begin the campaign for the 2024 presidential elections.

It is important to point out that Venezuelans residing abroad, and registered in the Electoral Registry, had already updated their residence address to exercise their right in the more than 81 cities of 32 countries listed by the Venezuelan opposition.

Recently, due to the resignation of the rectors of the National Electoral Council (CNE), which generated uncertainty among voters regarding the accompaniment of the entity in the October primaries, the opposition declared that the elections will be manual.

M.Pino

Source: nuevodia

(Reference image source: Element5 Digital, Unsplash)

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The rate planned in Germany for all final gas consumers will be applied from October 1st, sources from the Ministry of the Economy announced today.

The exact amount of the surcharge will be published online in mid- to late-August and will depend on compensation requests made by gas importers, it added.

Economy Minister Robert Habeck estimates that it will cost consumers several hundred euros per household per year. The amount of the rate has not yet been specified, but it will be between 1.5 and 5 euro cents per kilowatt hour (same value in dollars), said the Greens party politician.

Secure gas supply

The Government argues that the rate is necessary to ensure energy supply, so that no supplier has to declare insolvency due to the increase in its costs due to the sharp rise in gas purchase prices due to cuts in Russian supplies.

Companies can use it in this way to transfer part of their higher costs to final consumers, and the Government has promised aid for households that, because of the increases, fall below the poverty line. “This is not a good step, but it is a necessary step,” Habeck said without elaborating.

Last week, Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned a gas price increase of two cents per kilowatt hour and spoke of additional charges of 200 or 300 euros a year for a family of four.

In contrast, the price comparison portal Check24 calculates additional costs of 476 euros for an annual consumption of 20,000 kilowatt hours and a rate of two cents, a price that includes value added tax. The rate will apply for a year and a half, that is, until the end of March 2024. About half of German homes are heated by gas.

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Source: dpa

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