In the online world, digital identity theft methods are diverse and constantly evolving, and attackers use technical vulnerabilities and social engineering methods to obtain sensitive information from others. The following are common stealing methods and examples： --- ### **1. Phishing (Phishing)** -**Disguised communication**: Fake bank, social media, or corporate emails/text messages to induce users to click on malicious links and enter account passwords. -**Fake websites**: Counterfeit legitimate websites (such as payment platforms and login pages) to induce users to submit information through similar domain names. -**Spear phishing**: Customized attacks against specific individuals or organizations, using known information to increase deceptiveness. --- ### **2. Malicious software (Malware)** -**keylogger software**: Record user input (such as password, credit card number). -**Spyware**: Steal files, cache data, or take screenshots from your device. -**Trojan horse program**: Disguised as normal software, remotely control equipment or steal data. -**Ransom software**: After encrypting the user's files, extort money or information on the condition of decryption. --- ### **3. Man-in-the-middle attack (MITM)** -**Public Wi-Fi eavesdropping**: Intercept communications (such as login credentials, chat history) in unencrypted public networks. -**Session hijacking**: By hijacking the communication session between the user and the server, it pretends to be a legal identity. -**SSL stripping attack**: Force users to downgrade from HTTPS to HTTP and steal data transmitted in plain text. --- ### **4. Social Engineering (Social Engineering)** -**Impersonating identity**: Pretending to be a customer service, colleague or government official, defrauding trust and requesting sensitive information. -**Decoy attack**: Use free software, gifts, etc. as bait to induce users to actively install malicious programs. -**Information puzzle**: Collect user information through social media, public materials and other channels for password cracking or guessing answers to security questions. --- ### **5. Credential Stuffing (Credential Stuffing)** -**Library collision attack**: Use the leaked account and password combination (such as obtained from a data breach) to try to log in to other platforms (such as e-commerce, e-mail) in batches. --- ### **6. SIM Card swapping attack (SIM Swapping)** -**Deceive operators**: By forging identity documents, the target's mobile phone number is transferred to a SIM card controlled by the attacker to receive an SMS verification code, bypassing two-factor authentication (2FA). --- ### **7. Exploit** -**Software/system vulnerabilities**: Use unpatched vulnerabilities (such as zero-day vulnerabilities) to invade devices or servers and steal user information in the database. -**API abuse**: Obtaining user data through unprotected API interfaces. --- ### **8. Biometric theft** -**Falsification of biological data**: Copying fingerprints or facial information through high-resolution photos, 3D printing, etc., to crack the biometric identification system. -**Database leakage**: Attack the server where biometric data is stored (such as a facial recognition database). --- ### **9. Fake apps and advertisements** -**Malicious app store**: Upload malicious programs disguised as legitimate applications to induce users to download and enter information. -**Advertising fraud**: Malicious code is embedded in advertisements to trigger data theft by clicking on advertisements. --- ### **10. Internal threats** -**Employee leakage**: Illegal sale of user data by internal personnel of an enterprise or organization. -**Abuse of authority**: Use position authority (such as IT administrator) to illegally access user information. --- ### **11. Dark Web transactions** -**Data black market**: Directly purchase sensitive information such as leaked account numbers, passwords, and social security numbers on the dark Web. --- ###**Defense suggestion** -**Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)**: Avoid relying only on passwords. -**Be wary of suspicious links/attachments**: Do not click on links of unknown origin. -**Update the software regularly**: Fix known vulnerabilities. -**Use a password manager**: Avoid reusing passwords. -**Monitor account abnormalities**: Regularly check login records and transaction history. Digital identity protection needs to combine technical means (such as encryption, firewalls) and personal security awareness to reduce the risk of being attacked.