It is not uncommon to hear of large-scale cyber attacks in the modern day. Just recently, major networks were targeted and successfully compromised by attackers. While the news has been mainly focuses on attacks on big organizations, it does not mean that hackers have shifted their goals from personal users to organizations. The threats of data theft still exists whether in the personal realm or organizational level. It is indeed very easy for hackers to invade your personal space and misuse your data. So how do you keep the hackers away? Here are five great tips.
Keep the Privacy Settings in Check
The first thing you need to do is to check your privacy settings to ensure that they are adjusted to keep you safe. Whether you are using a device or you are browsing social media, the privacy settings determine how much information people can see about you. All popular social media apps and operating systems today have an exhaustive list of privacy settings that you can adjust by yourself. Make sure that the information that is out there about you is just limited to general details.
Use Encryption
It is also important to use encryption especially when you are communicating online. Any information that is shared online moves through different networks before it finally reaches its destination. During the process of transmission, this information might be tapped by unscrupulous individuals who might want to use it against you. When this information is encrypted, it becomes impossible for hackers to access it, thus keeping you safe from fraudulent scams. Encryption involves the use of intricate algorithms which are not readable by other systems other than the one that sends the information. Encryption is available in most email systems but it can also be acquired via third-party services.
Use a VPN
It is also important to use a virtual private network whenever you are browsing the internet. Nowadays, some of the best VPN services can protect you from just about anything. The great thing about VPNs is that they safeguard you from all kinds of threat that might exist in the network. We often use public networks whose security we are not very sure about. Such networks can easily be hacked by attackers. In order to gain control over the network, you must have a VPN installed. It is virtually impossible for attackers to gain access to your devices when you have a VPN service running.
Use Strong Passwords
Passwords are also important in the cybersecurity realm. Most people still use simple passwords which are easy to guess. Despite the advancements that have been made, studies still show that up to 86% of people use unsafe passwords. Experts recommend to internet users to use complex password that are hard to guess. In addition, it is important to change passwords especially when some form of security threat has been determined. There is no agreed standard on what comprises a strong password. If you are unsure of your password, you can use some of the tools available online to give you suggestions on what kinds of passwords you can use.
Update Your Antivirus Programs
Finally, antivirus programs are still very effective when it comes to tackling threats. Most antivirus programs receive constant updates that make them great for not just detecting issues but also fixing them. There is a huge collection of malware lurking in most websites and downloading them is easy. Computer viruses might not constitute the largest share of security threats in the modern day but they are also still a huge part of the problem. An antivirus comprises of an all-inclusive solution that keeps you safe online and offline.
In conclusion
There is nothing more important than keeping your data safe when surfing. The threat of hackers is real and it is important to make it difficult for them to steal your information. Looking at the recent statistics, it is easy to see that threats have increased significantly. The good news is that there are also numerous ways to protect yourself. The above tips comprise of the most formidable ways of keeping your data safe. Be sure to apply them in your daily internet use to stay away from fraud and data theft.
Author: Jamie Cambell
