Computer security has become a major concern among companies and individuals so much so that cyber security course online programs are now prevalent and easy to find. Hence the need for a quick and effective response to mitigate these attacks. The introduction of new security-related occurrences daily has led to the increase of attacks in cybersecurity. You can lose private information, data and files, including photos, art videos and audio tracks. So it makes sense to back up your files regularly.
- Use online banking wisely
Ever since online banking was established, several threats to financial detail security has been one of the major concerns. The most common threat are malware attacks. The software is designed to steal account details at the login, including your passwords. It may also involve fake website subscriptions and account hijacking. If you use online banking try to adopt some of the following:
- Regularly review and evaluate your bank’s online policies
- Use complex login details. Always change your identification number (PIN). Avoid easy to guess numbers such as year of birth
- Secure your computer by using antivirus software
- Avoid accessing online banking when you are connected to free public Wi-Fi networks
- Check your account balance periodically!
- If you detect unusual activity, take immediate action by contacting the bank
- Mobile phone security
Just like any other personal computer, a smartphone contains a certain feature that makes it easily accessible to attackers. Smartphones need to be equipped with counter-attack measures. Unfortunately, most smartphone owners do not know of security shortcomings. Below are some of the ways you can secure your mobile phone.
- Choose devices that have an emphasis on security features. Your smartphone must have a file encryption feature. This feature protects devices from malicious apps
- Secure your smartphone through configuration. Enable password feature in your device. Choose a complex password with a combination of characters, symbols, and numerics
- Ensure you are securely connected to the internet by configuring web accounts.
- Avoid opening suspicious links and malicious pop-ups.
- Avoid sharing your number on public websites
- Choose your apps keenly by doing some research on them before installing and subscribing them
- In case your device gets stolen, take immediate action. Report the incident to your service provider
- Update your computer software regularly
There is a need to keep everything updated in your software because your device will be at risk if the updates from the provider are not done more often. You should also update your company’s network and your word-press core if you manage websites.
- Back up Plug-ins
No matter how fortified your devices may be, hackers may have new ways of cracking their way through. Therefore, you need to be prepared to quickly recover if something should happen to your important files and data. It is also advisable to keep your backup separate from the main storage. For instance, a USB flash disk or an external hard drive. Remote backup like cloud storage is available too. You can create multiple data backups.
- Use antivirus and anti-malware software
This is the process to equip your computers with antivirus software. Antivirus is software used to prevent, detect, and remove computer viruses. A computer virus is a program that multiplies itself by changing other computer programs and writing its code. When the code is successfully inserted, the affected files are then “infected” with the virus. The most common virus includes Trojan horses, computer worms, etc.
- Server security
There should be a server-side firewall set aside for the option of adding a CDN and SSL. Certificate availability and hosting plans that do not require you to share the server environment with other websites are available. You can also authenticate an SSH server with the use of a pair of SSH keys. This is another option to traditional logins. The keys have more bits compared to a password. These keys are not crackable using most modern computers. The RSA 2048-bit encryption is equal to a password with 617-digit. This key pair includes a private key and a public key.
Website users should check HTTPS and an SSL certificate before entering any details on the webpage. Even when you click on a padlock in the browser, you can check whether the SSL is from a reliable authority or not.
- Payment gateway security – online shopping carts
It is necessary to ensure that your payment gateway provider and any other third party connected to your site is safe. You will also need to choose encryption standards to use for your payment gateway. If a company is dealing with customers’ private payment data, the information should not fall into unauthorised hands. Any breach evident can lead to a poor reflection of the company’s reputation.
- When using instant messaging (IM) programs, be smart
If you chose to use an instant messaging program line WhatsApp or Messenger etc. for communication, do it with great care to avoid sharing personal details online. For protection, you can use a nickname as your IM name. This ensures your name is hidden during IM. Do not allow strangers into your IM groups.
- Download VPN apps
A VPN creates a secure connection between you and the internet. When you use the internet through a VPN, all your data traffic is sent through an encrypted virtual tunnel.
VPN not only helps you with security but with privacy too, so having one is always a great idea. Choosing the best VPN can be a difficult task so always check if the VPN provides free trial so you can test it out before considering it.
- Be aware of phishing attacks
Phishing is a cyber-attack that involves the use of camouflaged email. The aim is to trick you as a customer to believe that the message is important like a request from a bank, for instance, and you may be needed to click a link or download an attachment. Phishing attackers pretend to be a trusted entity of certain nature, mostly a real or imitates a real person or an organisation you are doing business with.
- Use firewalls
Your website host has the firewall in-built for your server in case of e-business. Apart from that, you should think of getting one for your computer. Many security plug-ins come with the firewall built-in. Once an attack is directed towards your computer, a notification is sent to you. The firewall will prevent any entry from outside.
- Choose strong passwords
Always choose a strong password for your email, social media accounts, bank app, or other streaming websites. A strong password makes it difficult for hackers to hack into your account.
- Subscribe to computer security service
You can also subscribe to a security service such as McAfee, Norton and Kaspersky. Their comprehensive security software are industry leading. The software keeps on updating and protecting you every time you go online. They offer an updated combination of programs, giving its users strong and extensive protection from cyber-attacks and identity theft.
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