The global pandemic crisis made us rely on technology more than ever. Following these cybersecurity tips is a great way to safeguard your data.
Cybersecurity attacks made the headlines in the past few years. Even tech giants like Google and Facebook got victimized by breaches. Hence, we must do everything to protect their data. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank for doing so!
If hackers gain access to your sensitive details like SSNs or financial details, it is most likely that you’ll be a victim of identity theft. There are more consequences for businesses. For instance, they might lose revenue in case of a breach. How? Regulations impose heavy penalties for such events. Moreover, a breach damages a brand’s reputation one way or another.
Indeed, every individual plays a role in protecting data. These cybersecurity tips will help you protect your personal data. If you a business leader, don’t forget to share these with your employees, too!
Vary Your Passwords
It’s tempting to use the same password for all accounts as it’s easier to remember. However, that is not a smart practice. The best way to secure your accounts is to have a unique password across all websites and accounts you use. As result, hackers won’t access your other accounts in case they breach a company you use.
Use A Password Manager
Remembering all of those passwords is challenging for most people. If that is your case, a password manager will greatly help you with that. It is a software or program that secures all your passwords in one place. All you need is a “master key” password to unlock access to these passwords.
Hence, you don’t have to worry about remembering all of your passwords. Here’s an additional tip: you should never write your passwords. This greatly risks your data. Some of the great password managers are LastPass, 1Password, and KeePass.
Don’t Save Payment Information
Many websites give an option that allows users to save credit card information. This option makes future buying faster and easier. Here’s a tip – don’t do it. Hackers won’t have anything to steal if your credit card is not saved on the site. Data breaches are inevitable. It’s just a matter of when.
This tip may seem like a hassle. However, you don’t want to have your information stolen, right?
Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication
Typically, a user can access their account with only a username and password. However, enabling MFA or multi-factor authentication gives you another line of defense.
One common example of MFA is an OTP or one-time password. The system sends an OTP to the user’s phone or email after the user has entered his/her login credentials. Hence, an MFA makes unauthorized access more difficult.
Be Cautious Of Links
Phishing is one of the most common methods hackers use. Hackers lure their victims into giving up information by tricking them to click links on emails. Such links will take the user to a fake site that looks identical to its real counterpart. Afterward, the site asks the user to enter private details.
Do not click on links if it looks suspicious. The safest practice is to directly visit a provider’s site instead of using an email link.
