Tips to Protect Against Cyber Crime By Using
The internet is one of the most accessible things in the world today. Unfortunately, online threats are on the rise and with the growing number of online amateurs, basic security measures are being overlooked. Cybercrime is becoming a profitable business and therefore attracting more and more hackers. As individuals, how can you protect yourself effectively? Going from the most basic measures - which are based on the password policy and the use of antivirus - to the most complex measures such as securing your Wi-Fi connection or encrypting your data, we can cite non-exhaustive the following protective measures:
1. Create a Strong and Unique Password for Each Account.
The password is the first way to protect your accounts and data. It is also necessary to choose a sufficiently strong password which will certainly not make any hacking impossible but will help make the task more difficult for the hacker. It is also recommended to use a unique password for each account, which allows, in the event of a hack, to limit the risk to only the account that is hacked.
2. Change Passwords Frequently.
Besides using a strong password for each account, it is also possible to rely on frequent password change to thwart attacks by cybercriminals. It is, moreover, a measure that is very frequent within companies. In addition, depending on the frequency of password change, you may be content to use a medium-security password and therefore not too difficult to remember. However, combining frequent changing of passwords with the use of strong passwords offers more protection.
3. Use a Password Manager.
A complex password is ideal, but if you have to have a complex password for each account and moreover have to change them regularly, it becomes very difficult to manage. Moreover, some studies have shown that frequent password changes could make systems less secure because they cause users to choose between a strong password and an easy to remember password. In this case, the password manager can be very useful. And even if you use a strong password, if your device is infected with spyware, it doesn't do you any good. Password managers not only allow you to log into websites with one click, but also generate secure random passwords. The fact that you will not have to enter passwords manually also limits the risk of theft.
4. Encrypt Its Files and Partitions.
Encryption is a simple and effective way to protect your confidential data. Most operating systems provide full disk encryption, which can allow you to automatically encrypt data on a hard drive or USB flash drive. On Windows, for example, you have BitLocker which provides partition encryption.
5. Avoid Public Wi-Fi.
This is a safety measure that should be observed if possible. Public Wi-Fi is not necessarily secure and you don't know who is on the network, what they might be doing, or what they are capable of doing. Some people may connect to public Wi-Fi just to wait for the opportunity to steal valuable information like credit card data. For some sensitive activities, like logging in to an online bank or shopping online, it would be best to do so from a secure connection.
6. Install a Wpa 2 Key on Its Wi-Fi Network.
Speaking of secure Wi-Fi, it is recommended to use a WPA 2 dongle instead of WEP and WPA, which offers better protection than WEP. However, a WPA 2 key does not make it impossible to hack your connection, but it does make hacking more difficult.
7. Choose the Right Firewall and Antivirus.
No system is unassailable, it is only a matter of time. Thus, all measures that aim to strengthen the security of the system are necessary and having a good firewall and effective antivirus are among these measures. The firewall is a kind of filter that blocks certain incoming and outgoing connections. To enter a computer, a hacker, therefore, looks for a flaw in the firewall. If it manages to infiltrate, a good antivirus will still be able to prevent it from doing harm. It should also be noted that antivirus today no longer just offers basic protection features, but also advanced features such as antispyware, online shopping protection, and many others. Logically, for a given antivirus vendor, paid products perform much better than free ones. The former is therefore recommended. But in the worst case, you should have a free antivirus rather than leaving your machine unprotected. It is recommended to use Endpoint Security Software instead of basic antivirus.
8. Regularly Update Its Devices and Antivirus.
Your various devices (smartphones, tablets, PCs) regularly ask to install updates. While they can be annoying at times, updates are a way for vendors to fix some security flaws in their products. This also applies to anti-virus software, which is completely useless without updating virus definitions. By regularly updating your antivirus devices and software, you make it a little harder for hackers to do their jobs. So make as many updates as possible for devices connected to a network.
9. Close the Webcam With Adhesive Tape.
A measure perhaps paranoid, but recommended. A hacked webcam can allow a hacker to patiently observe his target while waiting to capture photos or videos that he could use, for example, to extort money from him. Espionage through webcams is an increasingly common practice. When you are not using your webcam, sealing it with duct tape can therefore be useful.
10. Use Common Sense.
Even if you strictly adhere to all other security measures, it may not be enough to provide you with perfect protection against cyber criminals if you still fail to use common sense. Common sense can be your best defence against cybercriminals. They can use many social engineering techniques to trick you into giving them confidential information or extorting money. For example, for an email asking for your bank details, even if everything seems to indicate that the email comes from your bank, do not hesitate to contact them to find out more.
There are also bogus tech support scams, where an individual pretends to be a Microsoft technician and asks for remote access to a computer.
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