Cybersecurity is not just a technical issue, it's a human one. Learn how to protect yourself and your organization from cyber threats with these 10 tips.
As technology evolves, so do the cyber threats that target our data, devices and identities.
That's why we need to be cyber smart and aware of the best practices to stay safe online.
In this blog post, I will share 10 tips for cybersecurity awareness that you can apply to your personal and professional life.
These tips are based on the latest research and recommendations from experts in the field. By following these tips, you will be able to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of cyber attacks and help create a more secure cyberspace for everyone.
Tip #1: Use Strong Passwords and a Password Manager.
Passwords are the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your accounts and devices. However, many people use weak or reused passwords that can be easily guessed or cracked by hackers.
To prevent this, you should use strong passwords that are long, complex, and unique for each account.
A strong password should include a combination of lower- and upper-case letters, numbers and special characters. However, remembering all these passwords can be challenging.
That’s why you should use a password manager to store and manage your passwords securely. A password manager is a software application that generates, encrypts, and autofills your passwords for you. You only need to remember one master password to access your password manager.
This way, you can use very strong and lengthy passwords without worrying about forgetting them or writing them down somewhere unsafe.
Tip #2: Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Even if you use strong passwords, hackers can still steal them through phishing, malware or data breaches. That’s why you should add an extra layer of security to your accounts by using two-factor authentication (2FA).
When you enable 2FA on your accounts, you will be asked to enter a code or approve a notification sent to your phone, email, or app after entering your password. This way, even if someone gets hold of your password, they won’t be able to access your account without the second factor.
You can enable 2FA on most online services, such as email, social media, banking, shopping and cloud storage. You can also use an authenticator app such as Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, or Authy, to generate codes or approve notifications for multiple accounts.
Tip #3: Double-Check That Link Before You Click
One of the most common ways hackers trick people into giving away their personal or financial information is by sending phishing emails or messages.
Review an example of an email below. Doesn’t it look like a real email?
But it is not. This is how a ‘Phishing email’ looks like!
The goal of phishing is to lure you into clicking on a malicious link or attachment that will either infect your device with malware or take you to a fake website that will ask you to enter your credentials or payment details.
To avoid falling for phishing scams, you should always double-check the sender’s address, the subject line, the content and the link before clicking on anything.
If something looks suspicious or too good to be true, it probably is. You can also hover over the link with your mouse cursor to see where it actually leads. If the link does not match the sender’s domain or the context of the message, DO NOT CLICK IT!
Tip #4: Use a VPN When On Public Wi-Fi
How many of us head to a Starbucks, buy a cup of coffee, sit down and access their Wi-Fi? Surely, many of us do so especially when we are travelling!
Public Wi-Fi networks are convenient and often free but they are also risky. When you connect to a public Wi-Fi network such as at a coffee shop, airport or hotel, you are exposing your online activity and data to anyone who is on the same network.
Hackers can easily intercept your traffic and steal your personal or financial information.
To protect yourself from this threat, you should use a virtual private network (VPN) when on public Wi-Fi. A VPN is a service that creates a secure tunnel between your device and the internet. It encrypts your data and hides your IP address from prying eyes.
With a VPN, you can browse the web anonymously and securely without worrying about hackers snooping on your activity. There are many VPN services available online, both free and paid.
However, not all VPNs are created equal. Some may have poor performance, security flaws or even malicious intentions. Therefore, you should do some research before choosing a VPN service and read reviews from reputable sources.
Tip #5: Keep Apps and Devices Up-to-Date
One of the easiest ways to improve your cybersecurity is to keep your apps and devices up-to-date. Software updates are not only meant to fix bugs and add new features, but also to patch security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.
By updating your apps and devices regularly, you are closing the gaps that hackers can use to attack you. You should enable automatic updates on your apps and devices whenever possible. This way, you don’t have to worry about missing any important updates that could protect you from the latest threats.
You should also check for updates manually from time to time, especially for critical apps and devices that handle sensitive data, such as your antivirus, firewall, browser and operating system.
Tip #6: Don’t Jailbreak Your iPhone
However, jailbreaking also comes with serious security risks. When you jailbreak your device, you are bypassing the security measures that Apple has put in place to protect you from malware and hackers.
You are also exposing your device to untrusted sources that may contain malicious code or spyware. Moreover, jailbreaking voids your warranty and may cause your device to malfunction or become unstable.
Therefore, unless you are an expert user who knows what you are doing and understands the risks involved, you should not jailbreak your device. You should also avoid buying or using a jailbroken device from someone else. If you want to customize your device or access more features, you can look for alternative solutions that do not compromise your security.
Tip #7: Don’t Store Sensitive Info on Your Phone (and Always Use a Passcode Lock)
Your phone is more than just a communication device. It is also a storage device that contains a lot of personal and sensitive information, such as your contacts, photos, messages, emails, passwords, bank accounts and more. If your phone gets lost, stolen or hacked, all this information could fall into the wrong hands.
To prevent this from happening, you should avoid storing sensitive information on your phone unless absolutely necessary. You should also use a passcode lock or biometric authentication (such as fingerprint or face recognition) to secure your phone from unauthorized access.
You should also enable the Find My iPhone or Find My Device feature on your phone, which allows you to locate, lock or erase your phone remotely in case it goes missing.
Tip #8: Use Privacy-Focused Apps
Many apps that we use every day collect and share our personal data with third parties for various purposes, such as advertising, analytics or research. While some of these data collection practices may be harmless or beneficial, others may be intrusive or harmful.
For example, some apps may track your location, browsing history, contacts or even microphone and camera without your consent or knowledge. To protect your privacy from these apps, you should use privacy-focused apps that respect your data and do not share it with anyone without your permission.
You should also review the permissions that each app requests on your device and only grant those that are necessary for the app’s functionality. You can also use privacy settings and tools on your device or browser to limit the data that apps can access or collect.
Some examples of privacy-focused apps that you can use are:-
DuckDuckGo or Brave for private browsing and searching.
ProtonMail or Tutanota for secure email.
NordVPN or ExpressVPN for anonymous and secure internet access.
Tip #9: Secure Your Local Network
Your local network is the network of devices that are connected to your router at home or at work. This network includes your computers, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, printers, cameras, speakers, and more.
If your local network is not secure, hackers can infiltrate it and access any of these devices or the data they contain.
To secure your local network, you should:-
Change the default username and password of your router to something strong and unique.
Enable encryption (preferably WPA2 or WPA3) on your router to prevent unauthorized access to your network.
Disable remote access or administration on your router unless you need it.
Update the firmware of your router regularly to fix any security issues.
Use a firewall to block unwanted incoming and outgoing traffic on your network.
Scan your network for any unknown or suspicious devices and remove them if necessary.
Tip #10: Educate Yourself and Others
The last but not least tip for cybersecurity awareness is to educate yourself and others about the latest trends and threats in cyberspace.
In summary, Cybersecurity is not a static field, it is constantly changing and evolving as new technologies emerge and new challenges arise.
All we need to do is to be updated on it and keep ourselves protected from the hackers with simple measures!
Try out any one of the suggested measures today and drop in your comments on how did it work for you. Never know your experience might help a reader!
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