To protect your data from theft and damage, it’s very important to have some kind of cybersecurity strategy. Without it, you are an easy target for potential cyberattacks, which are getting more aggressive and advanced day by day.
Cybercriminals use a variety of techniques to set up a cyberattack that can range from installing spyware on a computer system to an attempt to damage a country’s infrastructure.
With a hackers attack every 39 seconds, it is estimated that by the end of 2021 the cost in damages done by cybercriminals will be around $6 trillion.
So if you worry about your safety on the internet, here are some of the things that you can do to improve your cyber defense.
Keep Your Software up to Date
It is crucial to update your software on time, so you can get rid of any bugs, get new features, and add the latest security patches that are needed to get rid of the existing security vulnerabilities. You may also want to turn on automatic updates for your operating system.
Install an Antivirus and Keep It Updated
Antivirus software detects and blocks malware and viruses from entering your computer system. Not having this kind of security on your computer is like leaving your house with an open front door. So make sure you install a good and reliable antivirus and don’t forget to scan regularly.
Antivirus Software: Good choices for antivirus software
Be Careful What You Reveal on Social Media
Always think twice about what you post on social media because you can never be sure where your information may end up and how it may be used. People can learn a lot about you just by observing your public profile so make sure to make your posts private, or make your profile private, if the social media platform has that option.
Use a VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) offers you a more secure and private network. It keeps your IP address, location, and data safe, through a protected network connection when using public networks. It gives you safety and anonymity while surfing the internet.
Back-Up Important Data
In case of a security breach, you may not be able to access your computer, phone, or any other device. That’s why it is very important to have a backup of your data stored either on a local storage device or on the cloud. To minimize data loss, it’s best if you buck up regularly.
Good Place to Backup Data: Google Drive backup files
Use Two-Factor Authentication
Two–factor authentication (2FA) adds another layer of protection, which means that it requires more than just your username and password to log in. Some of the additional authentications can be things like fingerprints, facial recognition, a code sent via text, another password, etc.
Be Aware of Phishing Scams
This is a type of scam that targets people by sending them an email that seems to be from a well-known source and asks the recipient to provide personal identifying information. With the gathered information, the scammer can open new accounts or invade the victim’s existing account. These kinds of online scams often lead to ransomware attacks. So always be suspicious when it comes to official-looking emails.
Choose Strong Passwords
Passwords are probably the weakest part of online security because people tend to choose easy ones so they don’t have trouble remembering it. When you’re trying to come up with a strong password make sure to combine symbols, numbers, and upper case letters. Also, don’t use the same password for every account.
Be Careful With Public Wi-Fi Networks
A lot of people don’t know about the dangers of using public networks. First of all, when you gain access to public Wi-Fi, you’re sharing that network with people who are also connected. That means that every data that you send or retrieve on that network, can be intercepted by a hacker, who acts as the man in the middle. The best thing you can do to avoid a scenario like this is to stay away from public networks or use a VPN.
Be Careful What You Click On
Always double check before you click on a link, because they can often be disguised as something they’re not. This is the most common way for criminals to gain access to personal information, which they can use to enter the user’s account. So, be aware of links send through email or social media.
Make Online Purchases From Secure Sites
When you’re making online purchases, or when playing at online casinos you must provide information about your credit card or bank account. That information is the main thing that cybercriminals are after. So make sure that the site that you’re trying to make a purchase, has a secured and encrypted connection. You can check if site is secure by clicking that little padlock in your browser’s address to see if site is secure. More info on that:
Online Casinos & Gaming: Security advice before playing
Online Shopping: 10 Security Advice
Be Aware of New Malware and the Latest Cybersecurity Trends
It is very important to keep yourself updated about the newest viruses and malware that are circulating the internet. You can’t protect yourself effectively if you’re not aware of the latest cybersecurity trends.
Everyone’s a Target
When it comes to cyberattacks, it is needless to say that we are all at risk and the stakes are pretty high. No one can claim to be secure enough, in fact, having thoughts like “it won’t happen to me” can be very dangerous. Hackers are looking for all kinds of users, with the idea of stealing personal information, or ransomware.
Be Careful What You Download
One of the techniques that cybercriminals use to gain unauthorized access to a system, is to trick users into downloading an app or program that contains malware. A good piece of advice would be to avoid any unnecessary downloads.
Be Careful Who You Meet Online
People may not be who they say they are on the internet, or they may not even be real. There are thousands of fake social media profiles, many of which are being used by hackers. So always be suspicious and cautious when it comes to meeting people online.
