Technology is proving to be one of the best things that happened in the history of humanity.
Being able to gain access to anything connected to the internet is a luxury we can’t afford to lose these days. Artificial intelligence, automation, augmented reality, fin-tech, to name a few.
With these innovations in mind, cyber threats have also multiplied in the past couple of years. In fact, the more people make use of tech-centric systems, the more room for cyberattacks.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and remember the Yahoo! cyberattack in 2014. This hack involved over 500 million accounts and was touted as the most significant cyber hacking of individual accounts from one company.
And what about the prior cyberattack against one of the world’s leading software companies, Adobe? The company had claimed the hackers got hold of 2.9 million active accounts breaching their login credentials.
However, the company later revealed that the attach breached around 38 million active accounts in total.
That said, regardless if you’re an individual user or a multibillion-dollar corporation, anyone or any company can be a victim of cyberattacks.
Being cautious about how you use gadgets and the internet is crucial for your protection. Without further ado, here are the top five most essential cybersecurity tips for all users.
- Shop or bank from sites that have SSL certificates
SSL or Secure Sockets Layer is a certificate that companies buy to install a cryptographic system and encrypt any information to and from servers.
When you’re purchasing something online or registering an account online, make sure you go for sites with HTTPS instead of HTTP.
- Don’t use the same passwords for all your accounts
We are sometimes tempted to use the same passwords for all our online accounts.
However, this could spell disaster once a hacker gets into one of your accounts and gains access to your login credentials. To prevent this, always ensure that you manage your passwords smartly and confidentially.
Here are some tips to protect your passwords:
- Create longer passwords
- Incorporate symbols, uppercase, and lowercase letters, and numbers
- Never use your birthday information or any information that’s too obvious as passwords
- Regularly change passwords
- Use a password management application
- Never use one password for all accounts
- Never tell anyone your passwords, not even your family members
- Invest in a reliable anti-virus system
An anti-virus software acts like a nanny camera that watches over your house or establishment even while you’re away.
That way, you can be more confident even when you’re browsing and clicking on unsecured websites. Of course, a rule of thumb in browsing is to be cautious of what sites you’re visiting online.
Your computer might get infected with any malware that can hack your system and access all your sensitive information.
- Be wary of online scams
Be more vigilant when you’re clicking on emails and shared links from anyone. Phishing scams are prevalent these days.
Hackers send emails informing users that their bank accounts have issues and that they need to access the users’ personal information to rectify the problem. Always remember that no financial institution will ask you for private information.
When you encounter emails like this, check the email address. Better yet, contact your bank for confirmation.
- Do computer backups regularly
A good computer owner knows that backing up files regularly will make it easier to recover in case a cyberattack happens.
Set a schedule once a week to back up your files. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so always be prepared for any technological repercussions.
If in case your computer gets infected with malware, you’ll have to restore your computer, erasing all your files. When you have your backup storage, you don’t have to worry about losing your most important data.
Author Bio:
Eliza Brooks is an ardent blogger and frequent traveler who writes about home improvement, travel, and the latest trends on emerging technologies. She is currently working with EyeSpySupply, which offers a wide range of spy equipment and tracking device, including spy wireless camera, nanny cams, GPS trackers, and voice-activated audio recorder and more.
