Identity theft is unfortunately a common problem in today’s tech-dense world. Rather than leaving yourself vulnerable to thieves, put a few tips into practice and make it very difficult for unscrupulous characters to hack your stuff.:
Stay Up -to -Date
Keep the security measures on your laptop, smartphone, and all other “‘smart’” devices updated. Failure to do so makes your information that much more accessible to thieves.
Change Your Passwords
Change passwords for all major accounts every 90 days. Make sure the passwords are hard to guess, and not the name of your cat. Use different passwords for every account and make sure they include a few numbers and symbols. The more complicated the password, the more protection you’ll enjoy.
Understand the Signs of Malware
Educate yourself on the signs and symptoms of malware, adware, viruses, and anything else looking to infect your devices. Most malware and related nastiness appears legitimate, such as a “warning” telling you your computer is infected and that you must visit a certain website to rectify the problem. Visiting said website is what infects your computer with a virus. The same is true of emails supposedly from your bank or other financial institutions saying your account is closed and you must open an attachment or visit a website to fix it. Learn the many different ways thieves and hackers try to access your information. Remember, if it seems suspicious or too good to be true, it is.
Avoid Public Wi-Fi
Stay away from public Wi-Fi services. Sure, free Wi-Fi is a beautiful thing, but it also opens your device up to hacking, particularly if you don’t have a firewall and other anti-theft security software installed. Virtual private networks (VPN) are recommended over public Wi-Fi. It’s also a good idea to ensure your phone or laptop doesn’t pick up whatever Wi-Fi it senses, as it’s another way for thieves to access your information.
A few other cybersecurity tips include:
- Keeping your location setting off unless you need it
- Refraining from posting too much personal information on social media platforms
- Utilizing security patches as needed
- Using a password on your mobile devices as well as your laptop
- Keeping sensitive information off of your devices as much as possible
- Knowing the signs of spam and scams
Has the above information jogged memories of cybersecurity lessons you’ve learned? Share them in the comments section!