12 Tips on How to Protect Yourself Online
The increasing use of new technologies has led to the increase in cybersecurity attacks. Computer security has become a major concern for businesses and individuals, hence the need for a rapid and effective response to limit these attacks. You can lose private information, data and files including photos, video art and audio tracks. So it makes sense to back up your files regularly. You can protect yourself from online attacks in the following ways:
- Use Online Banking Carefully
Since online banking has existed, the threats to financial data have been obvious. Some of the threats you need to be aware of include malware attacks. Malware is malicious computer programs usually made up of code developed by cyber attackers. The software is for example designed to steal your account details when logging in, including your passwords. It can also involve fake website subscriptions and hacking into your accounts. In the case of online banking, you can use it securely by following these steps:
- First, you should periodically review and evaluate the bank’s online policies.
- You must use complex login information. Always change your identification number (PIN). Avoid easy-to-guess numbers such as year of birth.
- Your computer must be secure and have anti-virus software.
- The use of credit cards needs to be increased. Credit cards are more secure than debit cards.
- Refrain from using access to your accounts from public places. The risks of hacking in public spaces are higher. For example, free Wi-Fi and other public networks.
- Check your account balance regularly.
- Check the bank’s emails regularly.
- When you suspect intrusion, act immediately by contacting the bank and the police.
- Mitigate Cyber Threats on Cell Phones
Like any other personal computer, a smartphone contains digital features that make it easily accessible to cyber attackers. Smartphones must be equipped with counterattack measures. Unfortunately, most smartphone owners are unaware of their security vulnerabilities. Below are some of the ways you can secure your mobile phone: Choose devices that emphasize security features. Your smartphone must have a file encryption function. This feature protects devices from malicious apps.
- Secure your smartphone. Activate the password function on your device. Choose a complex password with a combination of characters, symbols and numbers.
- Make sure you’re securely connected to the Internet by setting up web accounts.
- Avoid opening suspicious links and malicious pop-ups.
- Avoid sharing your number on public websites.
- Choose your apps wisely by researching them before installing and subscribing to them.
- If your device is stolen, act immediately. Report the incident to the police and service providers.
- Watch out for online games
Thanks to high-speed internet, online gambling has become available and easily accessible to everyone. You can find games like car racing, sudoku and many more. However, you should be very careful about the risks they carry. Some of them may contain online predators, spyware and malware that can trick you into sharing sensitive information. Maximizing online security is the only way to mitigate these risks. Below are some of the gaming-focused security guidelines:
You must identify the risks associated with administrator mode. Most games require your computer to be in administrator mode. This will ensure that the downloaded game is safe and genuine. Install a firewall. Home users can protect their devices by allowing the firewall to filter access.Play the game on the site it is on to avoid encountering malicious websites and ads.
- Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
VoIP involves making calls using a broadband connection through telephone lines. Some risks come with Internet telephony. Many phone users received unnecessary calls and voicemails. In the case of spammers, you can use the Akismet plugin to keep known threats away from your site or device.
- Regularly update your computer software
It is necessary to keep everything up to date in your software as your device will be at risk if vendor updates are not made more often. You also need to update the company network and your WordPress ecosystem.
- Back up plugins
No matter how fortified your devices are, hackers may have new ways to sneak in. Therefore, you must be prepared to recover quickly should anything happen to your important files and data. It is also advisable to keep your backup separate from the main storage. For example, a USB flash disk or an external hard drive. Remote backup like cloud storage is also available. You can create multiple data backups.
- Antivirus and antimalware software
This is the process of equipping your computers with antivirus software. Antivirus is software used to prevent, detect and remove computer viruses. A computer virus is a program that multiplies by modifying other computer programs and writing its code. When the code is successfully inserted, the affected files are then “infected” with the virus. The most common viruses are Trojans, worms, etc. Artists, for example, should make sure they have an antivirus installed on their computers. Their art creations, music creation, video content and live performances stored in the computer or laptop might get corrupted. In this way, they can lose access to their important data and files.
- Server Security
There should be a server side firewall reserved for the option to add CDN and SSL. Availability of certificates and hosting plans that do not require you to share the server environment with other websites are available. You can also authenticate an SSH server using an SSH key pair. This is another option for traditional connections. Keys have more bits compared to a password. These keys are not crackable with most modern computers. 2048-bit RSA encryption is equivalent to a 617-digit password. This key pair consists of a private key and a public key.
- Payment Gateway Security
It is necessary to ensure that your payment gateway provider and any other third parties connected to your site are safe. You will also need to decide which encryption standards to use for your payment gateway. If a business processes customers’ private payment data, the information must not fall into unauthorized hands. Any obvious violation can lead to a bad reflection of the company’s reputation. For example, a company like EBiz primarily charges to advertise its encryption standards.
- When using instant messaging (IM) programs, be smart.
If you choose to use an instant messaging program for communication, do so with great care to avoid sharing personal information online. To protect yourself, you can use a nickname as your instant messaging name. This ensures that your name is hidden during instant messaging. Don’t allow strangers into your IM groups. At work, be careful how you use instant messaging, because your boss has the right to read your messages.
- Download the VPN app
A VPN creates a secure connection between you and the Internet. When you use the Internet through a VPN, all of your data traffic is sent through an encrypted virtual tunnel. VPN is preferred when sending important emails. Email is also a tool for doing business. Even if you have better security software on your computer, your partner may not.
- Subscribe to computer security service
You can also subscribe to a security service such as McAfee. This comprehensive security software always works. The software continues to update and protect you every time you go online. For example, McAfee offers an updated combination of programs, providing its users with a
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