Cyber threats are becoming an increasing danger, as they can compromise your online accounts and personal information. Here are some tips to keep your data safe and secure.
First and foremost, use strong passwords. Make combinations of lower and upper case letters, numbers, and symbols, then change them periodically.
1. Change Your Passwords Regularly
One of the best ways to protect your online accounts from cyber threats is by regularly changing passwords. Experts suggest changing passwords on email, bank accounts, social media and other accounts every 30 to 90 days.
Maintaining the same password across multiple accounts can be risky, as it makes it simpler for someone to figure out your password and gain access to everything online that you have available.
Regularly updating your passwords helps avoid them being forgotten and giving hackers access to them. Password managers are an excellent solution for storing and updating passwords when needed, plus some even generate ultra-strong ones automatically so you don’t have to worry anymore about it.
2. Keep Your Devices Up-to-Date
Software updates are essential for keeping your devices and personal information safe from malicious hackers. They enhance existing features, patch security holes, resolve bugs and more – all of which can benefit from having up-to-date software.
Every time a new software update is released, be sure to install it promptly. Usually, this can be done automatically by your device or the program you use.
However, ignoring those pesky pop-ups from your devices that alert you when an update is required could leave you vulnerable to cyber threats.
Your devices contain a wealth of personal information, such as private photos and other sensitive data. Hackers may steal this data and use it for fraudulent activity or attacks against other accounts you use online.
3. Use Two-Factor Authentication
Enhancing the security of your online accounts is essential for safeguarding data against cyber threats. Two-factor authentication (or 2FA) is one such example; it enables you to safeguard bank accounts or other sensitive information by requiring more than just a password to log in.
Two-factor authentication is a popular form of two-factor authentication, consisting of SMS text message and voice based login. This involves providing your phone number at the beginning of registration and having the service send a single use code to that number every time you need to log in.
Though an additional layer of security can be beneficial, it does not guarantee that hackers won’t breach into your account. Hackers are constantly devising new methods to steal passwords, so you must remain vigilant.
4. Avoid Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks utilizing email, social media and other communication methods to steal sensitive information are one of the most prevalent cyber risks both individuals and companies must contend with. To protect yourself against becoming a victim of these attacks, it’s essential to know how to identify phishing emails and take steps to secure your accounts.
Phishing emails often contain warning signs that an experienced eye should be able to recognize. These include spelling mistakes, punctuation mistakes and even wording that appears unusual.
Maintaining the strength and regularity of your email password can help protect against this type of attack. Furthermore, use two-factor authentication on all online accounts so hackers cannot access sensitive personal information.
5. Lock Down Your Accounts
To keep your accounts secure, secure them with strong passwords and two-factor authentication. This type of protection is especially critical for high-value accounts like your bank account or email address.
Make sure to use a unique password for each account and update them regularly. Alternatively, you may consider using a password manager which enables you to store and manage all your passwords across multiple accounts in one location.
Furthermore, make it a habit of keeping your browser history and other web data clean. Doing so will shield your personal information from cybercriminals who may attempt to access it via phishing attacks.
You can sign up for email and text alerts that will notify you when your account has been accessed by an unauthorized individual or from a new device. Doing this helps identify an attacker quickly and easily before they are able to gain unauthorized access to your account.
