With the advancement of technology, there has been a continuous rise in the internet and its features. But along with this ever cherished technological advancement, there comes the fear of personal; data being stolen and used for malicious purposes.
Yes, you have heard that right; we are talking about cyber-attacks that have become common these days and are giving birth to activities such as robbery, hacking, cyberbullying, stalking, etc. In such a world full of threats and attacks, how is it possible to save oneself against cybercrime?
Yes, cybercrimes cannot be put to an end as a whole, but there are certainly ways in which they can be reduced by exercising a few precautions. So here are a few ways in which you can protect yourself from falling prey to cyber-attacks:
Usage of strong passwords
It can be a tough nut to crack when you have too many accounts and simultaneously too many passwords to remember. It can be an all in all complicated task to remember passwords, especially when you have to suggest a strong password, and you cannot go in by inputting your name or 123.
There are many rules and restrictions when it comes to using a strong password. Ranging from having a fourteen-letter password to having alphanumeric characters in your code or having at least one uppercase alphabet, there are many things to abide by to have a strong password.
Make sure that you use strong passwords to secure your accounts, especially when they are money-related. You can also consider seeking assistance from cybersecurity companies like Clarity to design a cyber-defense system for your business to save others from lurking in your business.
Using multi-level authentication
In some cases, you might have also asked your apps asking you for additional information apart from just your password. May it be a one-time password or any other code sent to you via message, email, or any other mode.
This multi-level authentication process can help you save from being duped. Further, a hacker is sitting eyeing on your account to hack your password, you gain a certain level of immunity if you have too many authentication levels.
So whenever you get an option for securing your account via multi-level authentication, do go for it. It may be a bit painful while you log in to your account, but it can take you a long way, talking in terms of safety and preventing yourself from a cyber-attack.
Public Wi-Fi protocols
It may feel quite tempting to immediately log in to a public Wi-Fi and use their internet to save your data plan for late-night Netflix series, but you might be prone to a cyber-attack. Yes, we are not trying to scare you off but are trying to acquaint you with the reality of the current hour.
When you connect your phone to a nearby free Wi-Fi, other people around you might also be doing the same and may even see what you are sending and receiving. Yes, this may sound surprising, but yes, if you a techno-geek or hacker around, then they can easily gain access to your whereabouts.
And, just think if you are logging in to your net banking account or any other account that holds monetary or confidential importance? You would surely not want yourself to fall prey to a cyber-attack, right?
So be careful when you use public Wi-Fi and consider using a virtual private network to make sure that your internet traffic is encrypted.
Learn to disconnect
We people have a habit of leaving our internet connection on, even if we are not using it. But as a piece of advice, always make it a habit of disconnecting the internet when you are not accessing the internet.
This will save you from being prone to a phishing attack and can also prevent unwanted elements and viruses from invading your system. You can also make a habit of logging off your system so that no one can access your PC once you leave it.
Say no to a bad neighborhood
Our actions and habits of visiting any random neighbor may sometimes lead us to be robbed and victimized. Sometimes you might unknowingly visit bad neighborhoods, but till the time you can keep yourself at bay from such neighborhoods, try to stay aloof.
Entering a hacker chat room, visiting scam websites, watching adult content can expose you to the clutches of robbery and cybercrimes. So make sure that you refrain from visiting any such sites that can put you at risk.
Be social but with fewer social media settings
In this world of high technology where everything has been brought closer together via the internet, social media is one such thing from which one can barely distance themselves. Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, there is simply an endless number of apps and platforms that allow a person to mark their social presence and gel well around with people from all over the world.
But while you socialize, make sure that you do not showcase much of your private information. Cybercriminals are always in search of personal data, so the lesser you share, the better is your security.
Updating your software regularly
We do not suggest this only to keep you updated with the current trends but also so that you can be safe against any type of phishing attacks. Using antiviruses is a way out to protect your systems but keeping it updated is a practice that everyone should follow to save oneself from any kind of cyber-attacks.
Cyber attackers may take advantage of the flaws of your software to gain a sneak peek into your system. Hence, fighting the battle and securing any such flaws by keeping your antivirus software up to date can help you win the battle against cyber-attacks.
Conclusion
Cybercrime has spread in multi-folds and hence to save yourself from being a victim of cyber-attacks, make sure that you safeguard yourself against the same. Sometimes all it requires is to be a little vigilant and in your complete senses. So keep a check on the above-mentioned points so that you can save yourself from falling prey to any kind of fraudulent activities.