Why Care about Cyber Security
In the digital age, where our lives are intricately intertwined with the online world, safeguarding our digital presence is of paramount importance. As we navigate the vast landscape of the internet, threats to our privacy and security are ever-present. This comprehensive guide will equip you with practical strategies and insights to fortify your online presence and ensure a safer digital journey.
The burden of cyber security does not exclusivity fall upon yourself, as the businesses and their websites that you use should provide a level of protection to your data. But accidents still occur and your information that websites store can be comprised, which can have negative effects for yourself online and in the real world.
How to Protect yourself Online
Here are some steps that you can take to help secure your cyber security:
1. Bolster Your Passwords
The first line of defence against cyber threats is a secure password. Create strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts, incorporating a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Do not reuse passwords for any online accounts, if one of your accounts has its information leaked, then all the amounts that share the same information are practically open for the world to use. For important services, like online banking, regularly update passwords as unnoticed data leaks can happen at any time.
2. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
To increase your cyber security, you should activate 2FA wherever possible. This system employs a second verification step, such as a code sent to your phone, to be used alongside your password for the purposes of logging into an account. This process may be seen as a waste of time, but even if your password is compromised, 2FA offers a strong failsafe against unauthorized access.
3. Mindful Clicking and Email Hygiene
Exercise caution when clicking on links or downloading attachments, especially in unsolicited emails. Phishing attacks, which are designed to steal personal information, often masquerade as legitimate messages. Verify the sender’s identity and scrutinize URLs before interacting with them. For instance, if you receive an email about an unusual transaction with your bank account, check if the senders email address is actually from the bank. In this case, if you need to check your bank account, do not click any link in the email and instead login to your account thought your bank’s website.
4. Regular Software Updates
Keep your operating system, apps, and antivirus software up to date. Updates often include security patches that address vulnerabilities hackers could exploit. If you are using an older operating system that is no longer getting updates from its creator, like Microsoft’s Windows 7, you should consider upgrading your computer. While older systems might be okay to be used for less sensitive cases that don’t need the internet, they should not be used as your primary device that you use with private information, like banking details.
5. Secure Network Connections
You should always make sure your Wi-Fi networks have strong encryption. By default, your in-house Wi-Fi should be password protected, make sure you never remove the password off your Wi-Fi connection. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are potential hunting grounds for hackers, as all the information sent and received can be intersected. If you have to use public Wi-Fi, don’t sign in to any accounts and use a virtual private network (VPN) to hide your internet activity.
6. Secure Online Shopping
When shopping online, ensure the website is secure by looking for “https://” in the URL and a padlock icon in the address bar. If you have never purchased anything from the website before, make sure the website is legitimate. While some fake websites can be very hard to figure out, they usually have spelling errors or overly positive reviews.
7. Educate Yourself and Your Family
Stay informed about the latest cyber threats and hacking techniques. You don’t need to become a cyber security expert, but learning about the steps common digital attacks take can help you identify and avoid online pitfalls. Most large news organizations offer up-to-date information about digital scams, these articles are created, so the less tech-savvy individuals can still understand the issue at hand. Talk with your family members, especially children and the elderly, about safe online practices to create a culture of digital responsibility.
8. Be Wary of Social Engineering
In the world of cyber security, social engineering tactics are used to manipulate individuals into divulging sensitive information. You should always be skeptical of unsolicited requests for personal or financial information. Phishing is a common tactic, one common way this is carried out is a scammer pretending to be someone of importance to a victim, such as a bank employee or family member with a tall tale of urgency. This sudden, out of the blue situation can catch people off guard and possibly lead to the scammer gaining access to their online accounts.
9. Be Cautious on Social Media
You should think twice before sharing personal information, location data, or travel plans on social media. This tip fits nicely with the above point, if a scammer is actively trying to gain access to one of your accounts, they can use public information gained from social media to be used against you. Let’s say you post to Facebook something about trying to find a job. Someone you don’t know may send you a phishing message about a job offering; but there is no job, this scammer is trying to get your social insurance number.
10. Use Cyber Security Software
Even the most careful individual can still accidentally download a virus. You could consider investing in some reputable cyber security software, these services offer antivirus, firewall, and anti-malware protection. Some reputable brands of cyber security software have free versions of their software that while not offering the whole range of available protective functions still offer some protection to your digital world.
Conclusion
As our lives become increasingly digitized, safeguarding our online presence is more essential. By implementing these proactive measures, you can build a robust digital fortress that offers protection for your personal information, financial assets, and online interactions. But, you must still stay vigilant and educate yourself about evolving threats, and take the necessary steps to ensure a safe and secure online experience. Your digital well-being is at your fingertips.
Disclaimer
While the claims in this article are provided for the purpose of increasing your cyber security, we at It’s The World are not cyber security experts. This guide can help you prevent negative situations online, but should not be solely relied upon. If you choose to implement any of the above points into your online lives, please look into additional sources.
