With the transformation in technology, awareness about cybersecurity has become a necessity – at both the corporate as well as individual level. With the rise in remote working, breaches and cyber attacks have increased tremendously because most organisations weren’t prepared enough to deal with the situation. While there have been constant advancements in cybersecurity protocols ever since, it’s not improbable that one may get attacked by cyber criminals, who are looking to steal identities, account details and other personal data.
Fortunately, there are some basic tips that one can refer to in order to increase their ability to safeguard their data against cyber attacks.
- Clicking on unknown links and attachments: Whenever a link or an attachment is accompanied by a message or email, always conduct an examination before opening them. They may seem like official emails that have been sent by a known person, however in reality, could be malicious.
- Keeping passwords protected: Needless to mention, passwords are meant to be secret codes that only the owner of the account should be aware of. Therefore, it’s vital that one never shares them with anyone else. Long, unique combinations of alphabets, symbols and numbers can help one ensure the strength of the password. Not repeating passwords can also be a safe process to follow when creating accounts on various platforms
- Creating backups of important files: It’s always advised to store backups in a separate location as the originals – cloud or an encrypted USB drive can be used to store them safely in case one ends up losing the data from their primary device.
- Enabling automatic software updates: Updation of softwares ensures the addition of new features and enables the creators to fix existing bugs or remove vulnerabilities that can potentially be exploited by hackers. Thus, it’s suggested that one automates software updates and restarts their system to ensure that the updates have been installed properly.
- Protecting data: Whenever one is in a public space, they either keep a close eye on their belongings or simply lock them up if they have to look away. Similarly, when one steps away from their devices, they must always lock their desktop, laptop or phone screens, so that no one else can access it while they’re not around.
- Reporting suspicious activities: One must familiarise themselves with scam activities – emailers, links, and even phone calls. Once an individual recognises what a spam message looks like, they’d be able to save themselves from attacks, rather easily.
- Deleting sensitive data that’s no longer needed: Once certain data or information stops holding relevance, it must be deleted or destroyed from the primary devices.
- Using free Wi-Fi in public: Users often connect their devices to publicly available Wi-Fi. One must be aware that such platforms are a fertile ground for hackers to steal data and information. One can use it to surf the web, but logging in to accounts must be avoided at all costs.
Using these tips, one can understand the basics of cybersecurity. Besides this, one must always stay vigilant and aware of what and how they’re using the internet and stay updated about the advancements in security tools, so they can stay one step ahead of hackers.
To know more about cybercrimes and security, head our website: www.globedetective.com.
