Thanks to technology’s rapid advancement, the world has discovered innovative ways to make everything as convenient as it can be. Nowadays, people can now communicate in real-time via the Internet despite being away from each other. However, it has also paved the way for cybercriminals like hackers to capitalize on users’ cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
And because almost everyone has access to the Internet, it’s now up to users to protect their data and identity online. To help you out, here are some easy tips to avoid getting hacked.
Cybersecurity Measures To Avoid Hackers
Generate Robust Passcodes
It’s no secret that passwords are used for logging into various accounts, such as social media and online services. With this in mind, it’s crucial to curate robust and unique passwords because they act as a layer of protection against hackers. And as a rule of thumb, your password should include letters, numbers, and symbols. Moreover, it would help if you didn’t use the same password for all accounts. Because if a hacker guesses your password for one social media account, they’ll also have access to all your other accounts.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an average individual or a pragmatic startup security program member – having strong passwords is the first step towards data security.
Strengthen Protection With Two-Factor Authentication
For additional protection against cyber criminals, you should invest in two-factor authentication. And don’t worry because the extra hassle is worth it. So if a hacker guesses your password, they’ll still need the authentication code sent to your email or phone to log into your account.
Don’t Interact With Suspicious Emails
Unsurprisingly, professionals and students check their emails multiple times daily because almost all important files and discussions are done via email. Unfortunately, because of this phenomenon, hackers have realized that your inbox is the perfect place to launch various cybercrimes like phishing and cryptojacking.
To prevent getting hacked, you should make it a habit to verify the sender’s address to ensure that it’s the intended sender. With this in mind, here are some of the most cyberattacks to look out for:
- The sender is using a private domain and not the one from their supposed company
- The domain name has been misspelled anywhere in the email
- The sender didn’t address you by name and only referred to you as “customer.”
- Grammatical errors across the entire email
- Includes suspicious attachments
- Leads you to an external website
Never Open Attachments From Unknown Senders
One of the most prominent rules of the Internet is to never open attachments from unknown senders – you should only open files sent by users you know and trust. Unfortunately, hackers are sly individuals who will do everything they can to access your data, so it’s unsurprising to see that they also hide viruses and malware in these attachments.
And what’s worse is that these files have familiar extensions like .pdf and .docx. By opening these files, malicious viruses may invade your entire device.
Avoid Public Wi-Fi
Because everyone needs to be on their phones every time, public establishments like coffee shops, restaurants, and bars now provide free Wi-Fi for guests. However, despite this generous gesture, public Wi-Fi can be easily hacked. And by doing this, the hackers are free to see all connected users’ Internet activity, together with their social media passcodes, sensitive company data, and private banking details.
Hackers typically target these networks because of the high amount of traffic. And with high traffic comes more data to be stolen.
But if you find yourself in desperate need to connect to these Wi-Fi networks, there are two things you may do:
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) because it will encrypt your traffic.
- Use your smartphone’s hotspot to connect your tablet or laptop directly to your data.
Doing these will prevent hackers from accessing your online activity, keeping your private data safe.
Check The Address Bar
As you browse the web, you should make it a habit to check if the address bar says HTTPS at the beginning of the URL. It’s a surefire way to tell that all information you’ll send using the URL will go on a secure line. As a result, you may proceed to type private data or passwords without worrying about malicious hacktivists lurking on the sidelines.
On the other hand, if the web address only says HTTP or none, every data you send out won’t be safe – it will be out in the open for hackers to use.
Invest In An Antivirus Software
Antivirus software stops malware from harming your device by identifying, containing, and destroying harmful code. And because modern antivirus programs automatically update themselves, you’ll always have extra protection against the most recent viruses and malware. Here’s a detailed guide on launching antivirus software:
- Run a thorough scan with your antivirus program when you initially install (or turn it on) to make sure your machine is clean of all known threats.
- Ensure that all new files, including those obtained from the Internet or kept on a USB stick, external hard drive, SD card, or other sorts of removable media, are set up in your antivirus program to be routinely scanned.
- Ensure that your antivirus program is set to download updates automatically.
Final Words
The Internet is a broad, open space fueled by eager individuals, including hackers. Because of this common yet highly inappropriate phenomenon, everyone on the Internet is at risk of various cybercrimes. For example, if you’re not cautious about your online activity, someone could hack your device or account, leading to data breaches and identity theft.
But don’t worry because by familiarizing yourself with the easy tips to avoid hackers above, you’ll be a step ahead of hackers in terms of cybersecurity.
Ingrid Maldine is a business writer, editor and management consultant with extensive experience writing and consulting for both start-ups and long established companies. She has ten years management and leadership experience gained at BSkyB in London and Viva Travel Guides in Quito, Ecuador, giving her a depth of insight into innovation in international business. With an MBA from the University of Hull and many years of experience running her own business consultancy, Ingrid’s background allows her to connect with a diverse range of clients, including cutting edge technology and web-based start-ups but also multinationals in need of assistance. Ingrid has played a defining role in shaping organizational strategy for a wide range of different organizations, including for-profit, NGOs and charities. Ingrid has also served on the Board of Directors for the South American Explorers Club in Quito, Ecuador.
