In a world of social media and an increase in remote workers, cybersecurity awareness and training are essential now more than ever.
It is always easier to prevent an attack than recover from its impact. Knowing what to do to protect yourself, your company, and your employees is essential. The great thing is that you don’t need to be an information security expert to know and implement appropriate measures.
Here are some easy ways to improve your cyber security at all times:
Keep your tools up to date
Always keep your apps and operating system up to date. Outdated software has loopholes hackers can use to access your accounts and devices. Regularly updating your apps fixes all bugs and reduces the chances of a security breach.
Always select auto-update on your apps, operating system, and browser plug-ins.
Use VPNs at all times
If you’re working remotely, make sure to use a secure and reliable VPN, mainly if you use public networks in cafés. A VPN will make it harder for hackers to trace and control your device through a WiFi connection. However, since each OS is different, there are divergent aspects to consider, for example, for Mac and Windows users. So try to choose the right VPN because if it fits your device well, it will protect your connection and be easy to use as well.
Protect Your Personally Identifiable Information
Personally identifiable information is key details that can be used by cybercriminals to find you on the internet. PII includes your name, address, date of birth, cell phone number, Social Security Number, credit card details, and IP address.
It is advisable to leave out as much personal information as possible from your social media accounts to make it more difficult for a cybercriminal to make use of your PII.
Always review your privacy settings on all your socials to make sure you’re not leaving unnecessary personal information on the internet because compromised credentials are one of the main causes of data breaches around the world.
Use multi-factor authentication
Having a strong password is not enough to protect you from a hack. Rather, consider using more two-factor authentication, like an authenticator app and a passphrase, whenever logging in to your account.
Two-factor authentication gives you the option to add more security options besides your username and password. Hence, even if your password is compromised, the hacker would still need more information to access your account.
Avoid using SMS as a two-factor authentication method because malware can be used to attack mobile networks and access your data.
Ensure security question answers aren’t related to you or your family in any way, as this can be easy to access by social engineering.
Use strong passwords
An 8-character password is no longer strong enough to protect your account because it can be cracked in just 4 hours. It’s advisable to use a 12 or 16-character password with combinations of upper case, lower case, numbers, and symbols.
Special characters like @&%#_. are easier to guess by hackers, so use other symbols instead. Never use the same password for two accounts. You can get a password manager if it’s necessary for you to remember all your passwords.
Never leave hints about your passwords publicly, and always ensure you change your password every year.
Get accustomed to phishing tactics
About 90% of ransomware cases are carried out by phishing attacks. A phishing attack is when a hacker sends you a message pretending to be someone else in a bid to trick the recipient into giving their credentials or clicking a malicious link.
Be cautious. Ignore emails from people you don’t know. Hover over links to be sure of where they lead, examine at the sender’s address carefully, and look out for grammatical errors.
Always use an antivirus
Having antivirus software on your device is a no-brainer. It is the most effective way to protect your device from malware and other viruses from compromising your data. You only need one antivirus, and make sure it’s from a trusted supplier.
Firewalls control the type of traffic your laptop is allowed to have access to while browsing. Having a firewall is vital to keeping hackers, malicious activity, and viruses away from your device while surfing the internet.
Always backup your device
Back up your network and devices regularly. Ensure all backups are stored offline and easily accessible when needed. For added security, follow the 3-2-1 backup rule. The rule is you store three copies of your backup files in 2 different storage spaces, two on a local and external hard drive and one in cloud storage.
In the case of a cybersecurity attack, you can erase your compromised database and restore everything using your backups.
Purchase all similar domains
As a company, you can consider purchasing all web domains that can be created using your business name to prevent phishing attempts. This way, hackers can’t create emails or websites with your company’s name, limiting their ability to perform phishing attacks.
Terminate all unused subscriptions after expiration. All expired or unused software and apps should be deactivated or deleted to avoid leaving traces of your credentials on the internet.
Audit your security systems
Why wait for a hacker to test how secure your systems are when you be a step ahead?
If you can afford to, hire an information security expert to audit your systems and conduct penetration testing. This will help you discover loopholes you didn’t know existed and fix them.
After an audit, always ensure you discontinue third-party access to your security system that was required during the process to avoid a security breach from a person who worked on your company’s system.
Have a cyberattack contingency plan
After following all the cybersecurity measures, every company should have a plan in the event of a security breach. A company should be aware of the risks of a cybersecurity attack and have a laid-out plan on how to communicate a breach and fix it. Having strong cyber resilience is key to detecting and countering an attack and reducing the impact of a breach.
Conclusion
Getting accustomed to cybersecurity measures is vital to combating security breaches that can cost you and your company time and money. Make cybersecurity training mandatory to ensure everyone’s on board. Remember, prevention isn’t enough, so make sure to draft a contingency plan to prevent maximum damage.
