Hackers are good at what they do – they know what their doing and they can access some of your most personal data. In order to make sure you’re safe from cybercriminals, you need to arm yourself the best you can. Check out these tips to make sure you’re doing your best to keep the hackers away.
Don’t forsake to update your OS and other software. When your programs are outdated, your system is way more vulnerable to hackers accessing your computer- usually by malware. Software like Java or Flash are particularly susceptible to hackers, so it’s best to get rid of those or any other outside sites and services. Think of automatically setting your software updates, so you don’t have to think about it.
Download security programs. If your OS didn’t come pre-packaged with it, you’ll want to download anti-malware software with multiple technologies for protecting against spyware, ransomeware, and exploits. Check to see if your OS has firewall and antivirus built in and whether those programs are compatible with additional cybersecurity software. Check out Malwarebytes – a great program helping protect you from vicious malware.
Get rid of all traces of personal info on hardware you plan on selling. Erase your hard drive if you’re selling some hardware. This will make retrieving information way more difficult.
Don’t use open Wi-Fi on your router. Using open wifi on your router makes it extremely easy for cyber hackers to steal your connection and download illegal files. Make sure your wifi is protected with encrypted password, and refresh your equipment every few years.
Protect every device with a password. Desktop, laptop, phone, smartwatch, tablet, camera – you name it, it needs a password. Another thing you should do is make the timeout fairly short. Leaving your phone unlocked can lead to huge consequences. All it takes is someone picking up your phone when you’re not looking and getting into extremely sensitive information.
Make your passwords difficult. And never use the same one across multiple devices. Consider two-step authentication. The extra time is worth it and makes it that much more difficult for someone to get into your information.
Make your answers for security questions creative. Hackers can find your graduation year or your mothers maiden name by a simple google search. Reply with crazy answers, that way they are harder to guess.
Keep sensitive data off of the cloud. Whatever data you store on the cloud, doesn’t belong to you. Use the cloud wisely and if it’s important, just don’t.
If anything seems strange, just run away from it as fast as you can. Use common sense and don’t click, open or download anything that doesn’t seem 100% from a reputable source. Scammers are good at what they do these days – and sometimes even your best efforts can ensure you won’t be caught. However, taking steps to protect yourself is the best thing you can do.
