No one can argue the benefits of the internet, and how it changed our lives for the best. We can do everything online now, and humanity is all the better for it. Things that were not possible 20 years ago are now a click away, and the number of industries and people that took advantage of that is huge. Yet, for all its pros, the internet has one major problem, and that is security. Having everything from your financial information to where you live and work in the cyberspace comes at a price. Cybercrimes are more frequently now than ever, and if you’re not careful, you could easily fall prey to one. These safety precautions will help you protect your data from cybercriminals.
1. Update Everything
There is good news and bad news when it comes to cybersecurity. The good news is your computers, phones, networks, and data are all protected by security systems and firewalls, all meant to protect your privacy and keep your information safe. The bad news is, these roadblocks in the face of cybercriminals can still be overcome, and part of that is because of you. Studies show that a lot of the cybercrimes happening over the past few years are because users neglected to update their software and systems.
A computer software is not perfect, and hackers work around the clock to find ways to penetrate its defenses. This is why software companies launch updates to try and outrun those hackers and protect you against those vulnerabilities. If you forget or ignore to make those updates, then you quite simply put yourself in harm’s way.
2. Invest in Powerful Software
This is another angle a lot of people seem to be negligent with. You need to invest in some powerful anti-virus and anti-malware software to protect your data. You need those programs to regularly sweep your computer for viruses and malware, as well as deal with any that are discovered. Where a lot of people fall short is selecting the right software. Some just go with the free versions that come with their devices, which are seldom enough to do the job. You need a full-service internet security system that can deal with whatever hackers throw at you.
Take Norton Security, for example, which provides real-time protection to all your most private information –– financial or other –– effectively dealing with viruses, ransomware, and malware whenever you’re online. That is the kind of protection you need, especially if you deal with financial data that needs protection.
3. Train Your People
Most of the time, in companies, cybercrimes happen because people working in those places lacked the awareness to deal with potential hacking attempts. You need to protect your company from such situations, and this is why you should offer cyber security training to avoid such unfortunate breaches. When your people are trained to handle potential threats, they’d be able to do what is necessary to never compromise the company network or data. Take cybersquatting as an example.
It’s when a hacker –– or cybersquatter in this case –– takes your domain name and uses it for their own gain. If the entire company staff isn’t aware of the necessary steps needed to avoid such problems, chances are, they will fall prey to cybersquatting, and your business will suffer. Trying to reclaim your domain can take a lot of time and cost you millions of dollars, which can all be avoided if everyone’s got the proper cybersecurity training.
4. Use Strong Passwords
This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s actually one of the most common reasons why hackers can find their way into people’s different accounts and wreak havoc. Nobody likes to remember passwords, and it can be quite boring and difficult to try and keep track of all the different ones you used for every single online platform out there.
Unfortunately, you are going to have to do it, whether you like it or not. Your passwords need to be unique and strong because that way, you’d be making the hacker’s life much more difficult, and they might not be able to crack it. But going with generic passwords like “123456789” and the likes will most likely not get you too far.
There are solutions out there to help you with this dilemma, and they are actually pretty efficient. Some apps can create extremely complicated passwords for your accounts, and more importantly, remember them all. That way, you will only need to remember one password, and that is the one for the app itself, instead of remembering 20. Make sure that single password is really unique and complex, though, because it unlocks all your other ones.
5. Never Trust Public Domains
This is a tricky one because it’s something all of us do at some point or another. But you should be really careful with trusting public domains because you never know who might be lurking on the other side. If you’re sitting in a café, using a public Wi-Fi network, almost anyone else connected to that network can access whatever it is you’re doing on your computer via the internet. That is how unsafe it can be.
If you’re stuck in a situation like that where you have to use the public network, then take every precaution you can to avoid any hacking attempts. You can use a browser like Tor, which can encrypt your traffic and hide your presence on the web. It’s also advisable to use a VPN to even further protect your data as it basically encrypts everything you do online –– not to mention that it helps you access services that might not be available in your country, which is pretty cool! You need to always be on your guard when it comes to the internet, especially considering how we spend most of our day online, whether it’s for work or leisure.
In respect of cybersecurity, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Install the best software you can afford, and always keep it updated. Create complex passwords to make life harder for hackers and try to be alert when using public domains.