The word “hacker” can send shivers down anyone’s spine who knows what they’re capable of. Hackers are public menaces who are far more dangerous than your average teenager with a can of spray paint. They possess the knowledge and skills to access to seize your prized data and use it for their own personal gain.
They exploit your weaknesses and turn your data against you, often resulting in an expensive and jeopardizing outcome. So, what can you do to protect yourself against cyber attacks? Here are some of the most effective ways to arm yourself and stop attackers.
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Use a Security Program
Without a security program in place, you’re just sitting back and waiting to get infected. It’s critical that your system is protected by downloading the most up-to-date security software.
Your system should be guarded against everything from spyware to viruses. If you’re unsure what kind of security program to choose, ask a specialist to help you determine what you need based on what you use your computer for. For example, if you use your computer mostly for social media and email, you won’t need the same kind of security measures as someone who uses their computer for remote office work.
Keep Your OS Up To Date
Failing to update your OS system frequently can leave you more vulnerable to attack. Hackers know their way around outdated programs that have been updated as a security measure.
Hackers are constantly at work to outsmart the latest programs, so it’s vital that you stay up to speed with the latest updates that developers create to improve security.
Wipe Your Electronics Before Reselling Them
Selling your old electronics is a great way to make a little money towards buying new electronics. However, it’s critical that you take special care to wipe them clean before putting them into the hands of someone else.
Destroy all traces of your personal information, data, and files before putting them up for sale. Some hackers specifically target people selling their old devices in hopes of accessing their sensitive information.
Whether it’s a phone, a hard drive, or a computer, clean it out entirely and refresh it to factory settings.
Don’t Use Open Wifi
It may seem innocent enough to do a little work at a cafe or airport while away from the office. However, it’s critical that you do not use the public wifi connection if you do choose to work in a public place,
Open wifi connections make it easy for cybercriminals to compromise your files and information by intercepting your connection.
Use Difficult Passwords
Believe it or not, most people’s passwords are relatively easy to guess with a little imagination. When choosing passwords, choose unique number, letter, and character combinations. Never use a pet name, birth date, or something else, which is easy to guess.
