Myth or Fact? The Cybersecurity Lies You’ve Been Told – Part 2

Last week, we exposed five major cybersecurity myths, and let’s be honest—some of them were shocking. But guess what? There’s more where that came from.

Cybersecurity is one of those topics filled with half-truths, outdated advice, and straight-up misinformation. The internet moves fast, and hackers? Even faster. So, if you thought we were done busting myths, think again. Here’s round two of the biggest cybersecurity lies you need to stop believing.

Let’s dive in!

Myth Six: “Hackers only target big companies, not individuals.”

Fact: If you’re online, you’re a target. Period. Hackers love big companies, but you know what they love even more? Easy targets. And unfortunately, most individuals don’t have corporate-level security protecting them. Phishing scams, identity theft, and ransomware attacks happen to everyday users all the time—often because hackers know individuals tend to let their guard down.

Pro tip: Protect yourself like a business would—use strong passwords, enable 2FA, and be cautious with emails and links.

Myth Seven: “Incognito mode keeps me anonymous online.”

Fact: Incognito mode only prevents your browser from saving history and cookies. It does not hide your activity from websites, your internet provider, or the government.

Think of it this way: Incognito mode is like wearing sunglasses—you might be harder to recognize, but you’re still visible. If you truly want privacy, consider using a VPN or a privacy-focused browser like Tor.

Myth Eight: “If I don’t click links in suspicious emails, I’m safe from phishing.”

Fact: Clicking a bad link is just one way scammers get you. Some phishing emails don’t even need links—they might try to trick you into calling a fake customer service number (a tactic known as vishing) or logging into a fake website that looks just like the real one.

Also, attackers use attachments—one wrong download, and boom, your device is compromised.

Pro tip: Verify, verify, verify. Always double-check email addresses, don’t trust urgent requests, and never call numbers provided in suspicious emails.

Myth Nine: “I can tell if a website is safe just by looking at it.”

Fact: Cybercriminals are excellent designers. Just because a website looks professional doesn’t mean it’s legitimate. Scammers create fake banking sites, login pages, and even entire online stores that look identical to the real thing.

And here’s a big one: HTTPS does NOT always mean a website is safe. Hackers can easily get an SSL certificate, making their fake website look secure.

Pro tip: Before entering sensitive info, double-check the URL—make sure it’s spelled correctly and doesn’t contain subtle typos (like "amaz0n.com" instead of "amazon.com").

Myth Ten: “Cybersecurity is only about technology.”

Fact: You can have all the firewalls, antivirus software, and security tools in the world, but if you fall for a scam, none of that matters. The biggest weakness in cybersecurity? Human error.

Most cyberattacks start with people making small mistakes—using weak passwords, oversharing online, clicking suspicious links, or trusting the wrong person. That’s why education and awareness are just as important as having the right security tools.

Pro tip: Stay curious, skeptical, and informed. The more you learn about cybersecurity, the harder it is for attackers to trick you.

Final Thoughts

That’s five more cybersecurity lies—busted.

Do you want us to continue this myth-busting series? Let us know in the comments! If there’s a specific cybersecurity myth you’ve heard and want debunked, drop it below! And we’re not stopping here. The more we expose these myths, the harder it gets for cybercriminals to take advantage of everyday users.

Which of these myths surprised you the most? Let’s chat in the comments!

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Until next time, I remain yours stealthily, TheCyberMamushka 🥷

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