An increase in
cyber-attacks and identity theft seems to make the Internet like a scary place
these days. But computers and the Internet, realistically, have moved on to
become a “need” in terms of work and even at home.
However, we
often take to pause on the enormity of cyber-hacking attacks such as the one
announced last year but had been going on since 2014 of a billion dollar identity
theft from almost a billion Yahoo Mail users.
But since
browsing the web is an almost daily necessity both at home and at work, how can
individuals protect and lay a sort of extra layer of security and privacy for
their network and computers?
Make
your password really hard to hack
Hard passwords
include upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. They
should be at least eight characters in length. They should also not use words
or dates easy for hackers to find, like your pet’s name or your birthday.
Then,
change your password regularly
A very common
mistake made by users is to create one hard password, but then never change it.
Remembering a long list of complicated passwords can be difficult. But no
password is unbreakable. Hackers are better able to hack multiple accounts if
those accounts all have the same password so never use one password for all
your accounts. You can change your passwords annually.
Clear
your browser history
This goes for
your home computer, your work computer, or your friend’s iPad that are used on
a daily basis. Internet browsers like Firefox or Chrome keep track of where
you’ve been and what you’ve done online. They keep
records of every site you visited. Information about what you sent from or
saved on your computer can be kept for days or weeks. It is very easy for
anyone who sees that information to steal a detailed record of your online
activities.
Don’t
use free Wi-Fi
An increasing
number of public places now offer free wireless access to the Internet. Often,
a user does not need a password to connect to these wireless networks. These
services might be useful, but they’re also an easy way for hackers to access
everything on your device. Unless you really need it, it is best not to use it,
and don’t access financial accounts using free Internet.
Watch
what you click
One of the most
successful ways hackers infect your computer is through a technique called
phishing. This occurs when someone opens an e-mail attachment that looks real.
But the attachment is actually a virus that immediately infects the user’s
computer. If someone sends you a file or a website you did not ask for, it is
best not to click on it.
Avoid
using public computers
Those without a
computer or Internet access at home often use Internet cafes to get online.
However, the more different people use a computer, the more likely a virus or
malware has infected it.
Have
anti-virus protection
There are many
anti-virus programs available. They can offer many different types of computer
protection. Some anti-virus services are even free. They are a great way to
have something professional keep users one step ahead of hackers.
Be
careful while using flash drives
Flash drives are small and easy storage devices
to use across different computers. They are a popular device that people use to
exchange files and documents. They can also spread viruses easily across
computers and networks.
