If you want to protect your computer and the information you store on it, then keep in mind these recommended precautions to avoid being hacked.
Cybersecurity is a serious issue nowadays for everyone who uses the internet.
No one is really immune to such threats, whether it is a huge corporation like Facebook or Slack or a small online business owner or person using public Wi-Fi to buy plane tickets.
Whether you do online shopping, download a movie or music, or place an order on EssayHub writing service – a professional essay help – you want to be safe.
Luckily, there are several things you can do to avoid being hacked – and make sure all your personal data is protected.
Getting hacked is very stressful. The best cure is prevention, such as avoiding pages that shows an unsecured connection ahead. Don’t wait to be hacked to do something to protect yourself.Take precautions now – so you can prevent hacking from happening in the first place.
Below are some helpful suggestions you can to do to avoid being hacked – by making your online presence much more secure.
The first rule of thumb is to always update the software on your laptop and smartphone. As the new threats arrive, the updates are designed to make the device protected. So, do not skip these things and keep everything up to date. It is especially important for anti-virus software and firewalls.
The next step is to always have anti-virus software on your devices. It is better to pay for it than to lose your data. Regularly scan your devices for possible issues. Also, scan any downloadable files before installing them on the laptop. Downloading malware is one of the most popular ways to get hacked.
Phishing is the practice when hackers send out emails with malicious files attached. Whenever you get an email, make sure you know exactly who it comes from. The hackers can use an address that is very similar to the actual thing – look carefully at it.
A lot of attacks happen because one person downloads an .exe file from an email attachment without thinking about it too much.
If you want to take an extra step, you can always check the IP address of a sender. It helps to figure out where this email comes from. It is as easy as googling the IP address.
Public Wi-Fi is never a safe choice. Such connections can be easily hacked and people can get all the information you use while on public Wi-Fi. Do not do online shopping in such cases because your payment information can be extracted during a transaction.
It is always better to stay away from any activity online that shows any sensitive private information when you are not sure that the internet connection is secure. If you absolutely need to use public Wi-Fi, install a VPN service. It is the software that encrypts your data.
It means that when you log into an account, you need to enter the password and have a second authentication – for example, an SMS code that comes to your smartphone.
Do not skip this step and always choose such an option.
In this case, even if your password is stolen, hackers won’t be able to access the account unless they have your smartphone too.
It increases protection significantly.
This is pretty much common knowledge now, but a lot of people still neglect this step. Do not use easy passwords. Use secure ones.
Strong passwords typically incorporate a combination of numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and occasionally punctuation marks.
Update your passwords twice a year and never use something that can be easily guessed (like your pet’s name or favorite movie you always talk about online). Do not store your password in a digital file on your device. And never use the same combination for two different accounts.
If you have an opportunity to use biometrics for your online banking, it is a win. For example, if your smartphone has a fingerprint scanner – use it to log into your banking account.
Cloud services are not very secure, although the providers always claim otherwise. Be mindful of what you put on a cloud because it can be hacked much easier than your physical device. Do not use it to store anything sensitive or something you wouldn’t like to be public. When you delete a file on your device, make sure you delete it on the cloud too.
The general rule is that if something is online, it can be hacked. So do not put anything important on the cloud.
Visit only trustful resources online. The easiest way to see if the website is protected is when it has HTTP, HTTPS, or URL in a browser. These are safe connections. Do not open fishy links that come in messages or emails. Do not open links even from your friends if you are not sure what it is. They can be hacked and that’s why their account sends out messages with shady links.
Also, avoid illegal downloads of movies, games, and music. They might be tempting, but they are one of the sure ways to get a virus on your device.
Cybersecurity is all about staying safe. Make sure you follow protection protocols and do not download shady attachments. Try to never log into your accounts from other devices and make sure you log out after the session. Invest in protection software and be very cautious of public connections and cloud services.
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