Top 10 Tips To Protect From Online Hacking

Cybercrimes are on the rise. There are over 1 million cyber attacks initiated each day. To protect yourself, your family, and your business, there are certain precautions you can take that will most likely keep hackers away from your personal data.

Here are some of my personal tips, not in any particular order.

Tip 1. Don’t open a file from an unknown sender

Emails are one of the common ways hackers get access to your data. You’ll get an email from someone asking you to open an attachment. The attachment can be a script that puts code on your machine, starts collecting data, and sends it to the hacker. Some scripts may also delete your files and more.

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Do not open an attachment unless you know the person. Also check the file type before opening it. Sometimes the file extension can be tricky, make sure you've your anti-virus settings to check for email attachments.

Tip 2. Don’t use same password everywhere

Most people use the same password for multiple accounts. Do not use the same password for more than one account. Create separate passwords. I understand it is very difficult to remember passwords. If any app or website provides secure logins such as face recognition in apps, enable it.

Create difficult passwords for different account

• In a research project, a cyber security firm found that the most-used password was Password123.
• Make sure to change the default password provided by a company.
• Make sure to change passwords every few months, if not earlier.

Tip 3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication

Most of the websites and apps that store sensitive and financial data now provide a 2-factor or multi-factor authentication. To login to a website or an app, you will have to enable it. That means, in addition to an email and password, you will also get an email or text message to confirm before you can login. I understand this is one extra step but enable it. Text message verification is not that difficult.

Tip 4. Try not login to your accounts on public networks

Public networks such as an airport, are usually not secure. Unless its necessary, do not login to your important accounts on public networks. Tourists places and private home rentals are also an easy target for hackers. Some hackers setup tracking on home routers. Try not to access your bank accounts, personal information on untrusted networks.

Tip 5. Don’t keep a copy of plain text login

Do not store your login details in a plain text. If you must store your login credentials, keep the file in a safe location and password protect it. Microsoft Word or Excel allows you to password protect a file. Additionally, you can also add some codes to your password that only you know. For example, in a password, you could insert your date of birth or your house number.

Example

If your password is “xatpatro” and your house number is 404, you can save password as “xatpatro404” or “xat4pa0tro4”.

Tip 6. Social Media

Hackers monitor your social media to learn about your traveling and other statuses. Don’t put your updates on social media such as travel plans or location. Disable auto updates from apps that use your location or maps.