Account harvesting is a process in which malicious actors acquire personal information, such as credentials or bank account details, for fraudulent use. Account harvesting is commonly done through phishing, malware, or other malicious techniques.
It is a form of cybercrime and a major concern as an increasing level of personal information is stored digitally. It can be used for unauthorized access to financial or other confidential data, identity theft, or other fraud, including the unauthorized transfer of funds.
Account harvesting begins with the malicious actor acquiring personal data, such as an email address, credit card, or bank account information. This data is then used to gain access to the user’s accounts. The malicious actor can then use this access to transfer funds or to commit further cyber crimes such as identity theft.
The most effective way to protect against account harvesting is to maintain a secure environment for personal and account data. This includes using strong passwords, having additional authentication measures in place, and regularly monitoring account activity. Additionally, users should always be careful when clicking on links from unknown sources, as they may lead to a malicious website that could carry out an account harvesting attack.
