Cybersecurity: Five Tips To Keep Your Data Safe

It was not too long ago that Tesla, the company owned by Elon Musk, was the target of an attempted ransomware attack when one of its employees was offered half a million dollars to embed a harmful program intended to gain access to the company’s data and either lock access to it or divulge it to the public unless a ransom was paid. Luckily, the honest employee’s reaction was to inform management of the illegal offer being made and the threat was handled – but $500,000 is a lot of money and there may be people who choose that over corporate loyalty instead. Cybersecurity is vital in a world where nearly every industry relies on computer, network, and Internet technology – and there is a lot more that businesses (both large and small) can do to protect themselves from these threats. Read on for five tips that will help keep your data safe from hackers.

• Awareness Is Key – The weakest link when it comes to cybersecurity is the person who is not aware of the different methods employed by hackers to steal valuable information and data. All it takes is one tiny lapse in judgement for a data breach to occur, so it is of utmost importance to know how to spot attempts when they happen. Treat your personal information as sacred – never share your identification details, birthdate, anniversary, or mobile number with anybody unless you are certain they are legit. Avoid emails from strangers posing as companies, using fake identities, and asking for them and make sure to never ever click on any link they provide.
• Use 2FA – Two Factor Authentication (2FA) utilizes a secondary device to confirm access to your protected data. Hackers looking to break in will need to pass an additional barrier of protection before having access granted to them – and if they do not have the secondary device in their possession, then they will be unable to continue. In other words, opt to use 2FA any and every time it is possible because you can never have enough protection against cybercrime. Just make sure your devices are not stolen!
• Do Not Click on Pop-Ups – Pop-ups are a popular choice for cyber criminals looking to steal user information by mounting what is known as a “phishing attack”. Though pop-ups are also used by legitimate online businesses as ads for items and services, there are the more dubious kind that often appear like some kind of security alert – avoid them at all costs. These can usually be spotted as they contain spelling and grammatical errors or if they employ irritating tactics such as pop-up windows that cannot close or persistently keep popping up after closing. Whatever you do, never click on them, and use Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL on Windows) to end their programs.
• Using Effective Passwords – It seems these days that everything we do requires us to fill in passwords and pin numbers before we are granted access to various apps and programs that we need each and every day. This includes apps for online banking, instant messaging, cloud storage, and more. Therefore, if anybody gets a hold of your password, you could be in deep trouble (especially if you are the type to use the same password for every account you have). Change your passwords regularly at least once every ninety days. Make sure to use a strong combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols and never use the same password twice. If there are too many to remember on your own, make use of a password manager that can safely organize all your login details for you. Also, always make sure that you are on a well-encrypted site by making sure you have a lock sign to the left of the URL bar before submitting any information.
• Have A Plan If Ever a Breach Occurs – Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, a data breach can still occur. If this happens, the first thing to do would be to inform people that can address the situation directly. Most companies have IT departments whose job is to handle these matters, so if you suspect you may have been the victim of hackers at work then contact your in-house tech support right away. Another way to stop any suspected attacks immediately is to disconnect yourself from any Internet or Bluetooth connection so that your link to the cybercriminal is cut. 

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