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Do you ever think about how safe you are online? Or do you ever imagine that you are also a potential victim of hackers? Let us tell you something: cybersecurity is getting really difficult to achieve with ever-growing threats not only to businesses but also to individuals.
We’ve all heard of people getting their social media accounts or financial information hacked and businesses suffering major data loss due to hackers. There are simply too many threats out there these days to continue to ignore the risks.
Everybody is talking about cybersecurity today. There are hacks, scams, malware, and many more threats that we are all exposed to. So, since the web has become such a dangerous place lately, it’s time to be more aware of the risks and take all the necessary measures to prevent them.
We have seven tips on preventing cybersecurity threats.
Keep reading below to find out what these tips are
1. Use strong and complex passwords
You’ve likely heard this one before unless you’ve been living under a rock over the last couple of years. Yet, it is so important that it is absolutely worth mentioning it again. Creating strong and complex passwords can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim of an online scam or a hack.
How do you create strong passwords for your accounts? Well, first of all, it is really important to stay away from obvious passwords such as sequential numbers or letters. And, please do not use the word “password” as your password. Simply adding a few numbers to this word won’t make it a strong and complex password that hackers can’t find out.
To create a strong password, you need to think of unique combinations that do not contain any of your personal information, such as your date of birth or your pet’s name. If hackers specifically target you, these obvious words will be the first hackers will try to access your accounts.
So, use numbers, letters, and plenty of unique characters, such as #, *,!, or +, in your password.
2. Frequently change your passwords
Besides creating strong passwords, you must also change them frequently to add extra protection to your accounts or financial information. So, change your passwords on a regular basis to protect your online data just in case someone got a step closer to finding out your old password.
3. Keep your antivirus fully up to date
Another thing you must do to protect yourself online is to keep your antivirus system fully up to date. The antivirus software is a very important layer of protection for your devices, be it a laptop, computer, or smartphone. It helps you avoid harmful viruses and other malicious software. So, keep your antivirus software program update.
4. Backup your data
If you don’t think that you can also be a target to hackers, find out that you’re incredibly mistaken. Hackers don’t just target big companies but also small startups and individuals.
So, if you don’t want to lose all your data in the event of a cyberattack, we recommend backing up all your data, whether it is documents, photos, you name it.
5. Use AES 256-bit encryption
Another great way to protect yourself and your online data is to use AES 256-bit encryption, meaning encrypting your network to prevent hackers from stealing your data. There are various encryption systems, but AES 256-bit encryption is the most popular and secure.
First, let’s make sure we’re on the same page with what encryption means. Encrypting your data means that you use the raw form of the data and perform an algorithmic function on it, turning it into an encrypted ciphertext that hackers can’t read. Now, the algorithm you use to encrypt the data is called “key.” So 256-bit encryption is a technique that uses the 256-bit key to encrypt and secure your files. AES is short for Advanced Encryption Standard.
6. Click smart
The tips above include various tools and tricks you can use to stay safe online and protect your data. Yet, besides using these tricks and tools to prevent cyberattacks, you must also make sure that you don’t invite cyber risks by carelessly clicking on suspicious links.
Phishing and social engineering cyber risks are real, and often, to perform them, hackers send messages or emails with suspicious links that, once you click on them, allow them to access your data. If you ever receive a link from a person or email address you don’t personally know or trust, do not click on the link.
7. Be a selective sharer
Sharing stuff online has become quite a normality in the age of social media. You often share information about you like your favorite meals, pictures of your dog or car, and many other details about your life with your virtual friends. Yet, while sharing a picture of an Instgrammable meal or a video of your pet isn’t necessarily a threat to your online security, sharing personal information such as your address, phone number, email address, or worse, financial information, can definitely be a major threat to your online privacy and security. So, when you share stuff online, make sure you only share information that hackers can’t use to steal your identity or wreak havoc on your finances.
