Want to Protect Yourself From Cyber Attacks? Here’s What You Need to Do

The cyber world is constantly evolving. With so much information being shared on the internet, cyber-attacks are becoming more and more common. If you want to protect yourself from cyber attacks, it’s important that you know how they happen in the first place. In this blog post, the discussion will be about what cyber-attacks are, where they come from, and what steps you can take to prevent them from happening to your business!

Turn on Your Computer’s Firewall

Each computer comes with an inbuilt firewall that can stop cyberattacks from occurring.

Here’s how to turn on your computer’s firewall:

• Plug the Ethernet cable into the port labeled “Ethernet” or “LAN” on your wireless router, and then place it near a power outlet.
• If you are using a wired connection, plug one end of the Ethernet cable into any open jack marked with either “WAN,” for wide area network, or “LAN.” The other end connects to your desktop computer.
• If you have an Apple device running iOS 12, swipe up from the bottom edge of your screen to access Control Center and tap Airplane Mode (if available) to toggle this setting off. Otherwise, tap Wi-Fi, then tap the name of your network to connect.
• If you have an Android device running Oreo or higher, swipe down from the top edge of your screen twice to access Quick Settings and toggle Airplane Mode (if available) off.

Install Antivirus Software and Update It Regularly

Another way to stay safe is to install antivirus software and update it regularly. This will protect you against cyber-attacks such as viruses, worms, Trojans (which are malware that can steal data from your computer), and spyware.

Here’s how to install an antivirus program:

• Go to the website of any reputable company like Norton or McAfee. They offer free trials, so download one of those versions for a week or two before buying anything. You’ll have plenty of time to test everything out alongside all your other devices with this trial version!
• Once installed on your device, make sure it updates automatically at least once every day by going into Settings > General > System Updates > Check Now/Later/Never.

To avoid cyber attacks in general:

• Try not to click on links that are suspicious, and always make sure your software is updated before downloading anything (e.g., Adobe Reader). Make sure it’s downloaded from official sources only, rather than third-party websites where malware can easily be hiding. That way, if cybercriminals intend on installing malicious code onto your computer, they will have much less chance of doing so successfully.

It’s important for you to know what cybersecurity measures could affect your business, as well as how cyberattacks work and why they happen—especially if you are an entrepreneur who relies on their computer to run your business.

Use Strong Passwords for All of Your Accounts

If cyber-criminals were to break into your accounts, the first thing they would do is see if you have a weak password.

To create strong passwords:

• Create one new hard password and then reuse it for every account that needs it. For instance, use “password” as your password everywhere! This way, cyber attackers will only need to find this single word before accessing all of your personal information. It may seem silly, but cybercriminals often go after simple or easy passwords because this makes hacking easier on them.
• Make sure there are no words from the dictionary in any part of its spelling or character set (e.g., don’t just choose “p@ssw0rd01”).
• Change your passwords every month or two to avoid cybercriminals guessing the password and breaking into any of your accounts.

Update The Security Settings on Your Phone or Tablet

If you use a mobile device, make sure you have the most up-to-date security settings on your phone or tablet.

This can be done by going to Settings > Security and turning off Bluetooth when not in use, enabling a PIN code for your locked screen (or using Touch ID), and setting an automatic lock after one minute of idle time per hour with no password entry required.

Keep a Backup of Important Files in Case You Are Hacked or Lose Them to a Virus

The best way to do this is to use an external hard drive or a service like Dropbox. You can also back up your files on DVDs, CDs, and even USB sticks.

If you want to keep these backups in the cloud, there are some risks associated with cyber attacks such as hackers accessing them remotely if their data isn’t encrypted. Also, if you have a business, you can always find managed cloud security services that would help you immensely. However, it’s worth remembering that they don’t have access when you’re offline either! It’s much better than risking your photos of all those happy times being lost forever due to cyber-attack!

Don’t Click on Links in Emails or Attachments Unless They’re Coming From Someone You Know Personally

If you get an email or attachment from someone you don’t know, don’t click on it. It’s possible they’re trying to get your computer infected with ransomware or a virus.

• If something looks suspicious, delete the email and/or attachment immediately without opening them.
• Don’t open attachments that are sent as .exe files – most of these will be cyberattacks.
• Be careful when downloading things like music or movies online because there have been cases where cybercriminals embedded malware inside the downloads themselves.
• Avoid clicking on links in messages from people you don’t know.
• If you get a call that says your computer has been hacked, it’s probably going to be cybercriminals trying to trick you into downloading ransomware.

Hope you learned a lot of things that will help keep your computer secure and safe! There is no reason why anyone should remain unprotected in this day of age. It’s essential for everyone to take these simple precautions and utilize strategies like not clicking suspicious links or attachments from unknown senders, using strong passwords, and being careful what information you share online. This would make it a lot more difficult for cybercriminals to get their hands on your personal information, and that way, you’ll be much safer!