Being hit by a cyberattack, whether it's a phishing scam, ransomware threat or classic computer virus, can be a traumatic event, affecting not just your security, but also mental health and well-being.
The feeling of hopelessness can be prevalent after suffering a cyberattack, as well as the guilt of having done something wrong that has exposed either yours, your family's or even your employer's valuable or sentimental data and systems can be incredibly taxing, but is often largely neglected in the response to such incidents.
Cybercriminals and scammers often target the vulnerable or elderly, who may not have the same level of technological awareness or knowledge to spot a scam, and the embarrassment of falling victim can also be an incredibly tough psychological blow that can take months to get over.
Unlike being a victim of "real-life" crime, it can be tough to know where to turn if you have been scammed or hacked online, and the after-effects of being a victim are often forgotten compared to physical offences.
However victims are not completely alone if they need support from cybercrime. Security experts Avast have teamed up with mental health partner YPPAH in a bid to improve the services and support available, and also raise awareness about what is becoming sadly a growing issue.
YPPAH provides a number of services aimed at improving personal resilience, including a free tool that boosts awareness of the user's mental, physical, emotional state of mind, and how this might impact the possibility of falling victim to an online scam. It also aims to help spot potential weaknesses before they can be exploited, offering a 7 key factor assessment to identify any issues.
Along with this support, Avast continues to provide top-of-the-line security protections to customers everywhere, offering resilient and up-to-date safety.
This includes its comprehensive Avast One Individual security suite, which offers a full selection of technological tools to optimise your digital life. Along with traditional antivirus and firewall services, Avast's platform provides an unlimited VPN and tough password protection tools to do all it can to ensure you never have to feel the pain of falling victim to a cyberattack.
Normally costing £39.99, Avast One Individual is currently available (until April 2) at 15% off, so there's never been a better time to subscribe and boost your online protection. And for those who might be watching their costs, the company also offers its Avast One Essential bundle, which is free to use but includes VPN and strong security protection.
