With the development of
technology around us, we must take care of our cyber security more than ever to
protect against any potential risks regarding our internet experience. However,
there are some essential tips that you should apply to stay better protected
against cyber attacks.
Note that cyber-attacks
are not anything new at all. Scammers and people with bad intentions search
daily for new victims to add to the list and if you think you are safe from
them, think again! Here are some general rules and tips from experts to stay safe
online in 2022.
Use strong passwords
Using strong passwords
is mandatory in order to keep you protected and your data secure. You should
start to fortify yourself by using a unique password for each separate account
you have since this secures your data in many different ways. Using strong
passwords increases your protection against potential cyber-attacks when
hackers use a program that generates random, known passwords collected from
previous hacks to try to guess your password.
Use strong passwords
that are a mix of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special
characters, and there are trusted services you can adopt to help you generate
and use these words. This effectively reduces the chances of you being exposed
to any data breach.
Use the two-factor authentication feature
Note that what protects
a hacker from accessing any of your accounts is your password. The second step
after using a strong password is to activate two-factor authentication as it
adds another layer of security to your online accounts. Two-factor
authentication is based primarily on identity verification.
If you or the
cybercriminal have entered the correct password for your account, two-factor
authentication will come in and ask you to verify your identity, this
verification process is done by entering a string of random numbers or
characters sent to you via SMS or by an application. You can use two-factor
authentication with almost all of your online accounts. Implementing this
security feature will eliminate any possible hacking attempt.
Double-check any link before clicking on it
Phishing is one of the
ugliest and most common forms of cyber-attack. Phishing is a form of
cyber-attack that is primarily carried out via email, but also via SMS.
The hacker is trying to
lure you to click on a fake link that takes you to a website
"disguised" as an official organization, in order to give him the
opportunity to download a virus on your device and then hack it and get your
data on a plate. Before clicking on any link, double-check that it is the real
site you want to visit. Note that the difference can be small and you will only
be able to notice it with a good audit like "facebook.com" and
"facebouk.com".
Use a VPN when connected to public Wi-Fi
Open and public Wi-Fi is
nice because it's totally easy to log into and there's no password, but it's
not a good idea to connect to a free Wi-Fi point unless you have to. If you're
connected to an open Wi-Fi network, make sure you're connected to a VPN.
Otherwise, you will be at risk of getting your device hacked by anyone
connected to that network. For example, if you are going to send or receive
important data, the best solution is to perform these sensitive tasks using
your mobile data. If this is not an option for you, it is a good idea to
connect to a VPN to add more protection to your privacy.
Keep software and applications updated
The purpose of
application and software updates is not only to ensure that you get new
features; It also ensures that you get the important security features that the
developers send in their updates constantly. Whether it's your phone, laptop,
or apps - make sure they're always up to date so you don't miss security
updates and become vulnerable to data breaches that happen every day. Updates
are very important, so be sure to install them regularly. As for doing it on
your computer, there is completely free software that helps you to easily
update all your installed software to the latest version.
Do not save important data on your phone
Cyber attacks don't
always happen only by unknown people but can happen from the closest relatives.
If you lose your phone and someone finds it, or if someone manages to get their
hands on your phone where your personal information is stored, you are in great
danger. Always use a screen lock to prevent people with bad intentions from
unlocking your phone, remember that you can fade it all from the start by not
storing any information on your phone that you don't want to reveal to anyone,
which could be the passwords for all your accounts, personal information,
sensitive photos, and everything related to that...
Make privacy your first criterion for choosing any app
Using privacy-focused
apps may not only help prevent you from becoming a victim of cybercrime, but
will also allow you to protect your personal information from any potential
dangers, such as your contacts, passwords, and personal photos. It is worth
noting that there are a large number of programs and applications that focus on
privacy, and therefore you should use them instead of the mainstream programs
that you are used to.
As an example to make it
clear, you can use Firefox or Brave instead of Chrome, ProtonMail instead of
Gmail, DuckDuckGo search engine, Startpage instead of Google, messaging app
Signal instead of WhatsApp... and so on, there are many alternatives For popular
services, user privacy is a priority.
Finally: These were some
of the tips that you should take to maintain your cyber security. The only
person who can protect you is you. Keep in mind that you are the only one in
control of everything you do while using the Internet, you are responsible for
using strong passwords and checking links before clicking on them. Be sure that
your data protection and your online privacy will be increased by applying
those golden tips above.