1. Look Out for Social Engineering Attacks
Social
engineering is the biggest security concern these days, as cyber thieves
and hackers smartly gain access to your secure information either
through mimicking other companies, phishing and other common strategies.
You need to be careful of all the suspicious phone calls, emails, links
and other communications that you receive. Also, it is known that most
of the data breaches come from internal sources. Hence, awareness is the
important key, as it may be astonishing to know that even security
experts can be easily tricked or hacked into.
2. Make Your Phone’s Lock Code More Secure
Many
of us consider that the default 4-digit PIN is the most secure locking
code. However, it is not. It is always better to add an extra digit to
make your phone more secure. For iOS and Android, go to settings and add
one more digit to make your phone’s lock code more. Further, Android
also has lock screen tools that lets you enhance your phone’s security.
Lastly, it is recommended to change your PIN if it’s one of these.
3. Always Back Up Your Computer/Smartphone
It is vital to
frequently backup and make duplicate copies of all your important data
to keep it safe. You can use a backup system with CrashPlan, or Windows’
built-in tools or Mac’s Time Machine.
4. Install the Best Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software
To
keep viruses and malware at bay, it is suggested that you use one
antivirus tool, such as Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac or such as Avira for
Windows, as well as an anti-malware tool for on-demand scanning, such as
Malwarebytes.
5. Lock Down Your Wireless Router
The first line of defense
for your home network is your router. To keep your Wi-Fi secure, you
need to change the router’s administrator login, use WPA2 (AES)
encryption, and change other basic settings.
6. Never Send Sensitive Information Over Email Unless It’s Encrypted
Sensitive
information, such as your bank info, social security number, tax
returns, or confidential business info, should never be sent over email
without encryption. It’s too risky. Encrypt files with one of these
tools before sending them or use a service like super simple ProtonMail
or encrypt your emails with PGP. Encrypt all the things.
7. Don’t Use Public Wi-Fi Without A VPN
While
using public Wi-Fi, it is important to use a network that has security.
To stay safe on public Wi-Fi networks, your best defense will be to use
a VPN (Virtual Private Network), which keeps you safe even in other
conditions too.
8. Use A Password Manager
It is impossible to remember every
password for each and every site and service you use. That’s where
password managers come handy. While security and convenience are the
features that you need to look for, however, select the password that
has the features you need.
9. Use Two-Factor Verification
Two-factor
authentication offers the extra layer of security that protects you in
case your password gets stolen. Turn this feature on in all the places
where you can use TwoFactorAuth. Further, if you lose your phone (most
often used as the authentication device), you can still get back into
your account if you plan ahead.
10. Frequently Review Your App Permissions and Security Settings
Lastly,
you still have to be watchful and make sure your software is always
up-to-date besides following the above steps. Always remember to update
the router firmware or regularly clean up app permissions, such as
Facebook, Twitter, Google or use a site like MyPermissions to clean up
multiple services. You can even get a bonus for keeping up with your
security needs, as Google sometimes offers free storage just for doing a
security check.
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