With the introduction and widespread use of mobile devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), the Internet is becoming more and more integrated into our daily lives, with nearly 60% of the world’s population (opens in new tab) having regular access. In developed countries in Europe and North America, that number rises to over 85%.
A 2017 survey(opens in new tab) found that fewer than 50% of participants could accurately describe concepts like “ransomware” or assess the veracity of claims like “All email is encrypted by default” or “All Wi-Fi traffic is encrypted by default on all wireless routers” (both of which are false).
Because of this ignorance, fraudsters have an easier time stealing personal data and breaking into organisations.
If you’re like most people, you use the Internet daily for work and for pleasure. Some common uses include sending emails, sharing and modifying documents, publishing pictures to social media, and monitoring your money.
Even while any of these activities might appear harmless, the truth is that cyberattacks are on the rise, and if you don’t take the necessary precautions to safeguard your online activity, hackers will have easy access to your personal, financial, and professional information.
1. VPN
By utilising a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, you may increase your online security in one of the simplest ways possible. A VPN serves as a go-between for you and the websites or services you use, enabling you to safely connect to a network in another place.
Websites will identify your physical location as that of the VPN server since all information you send and receive via the VPN is encrypted and cannot be read by other parties.
You may thus use public WiFi, such as that offered by a café or library, just like you would your own network. Additionally, you are given (partial) privacy when browsing the internet because many VPN providers don’t monitor or record your connection to their servers.
Finally, you can connect to geolocked material like Netflix because your actual physical location is concealed.
Today’s VPN services are affordable, extremely secure, and simple to use.
2. Disk Encryption
Another common tactic used by cybercriminals is to physically steal your laptop, phone, or tablet in order to access your data and personal information.
This is in addition to installing malware on your device or monitoring your online behaviour.
You’re certain to experience it at some point given the millions of computers and mobile devices that are lost or stolen each year.
Utilizing encryption software is the best approach to safeguard your data against physical theft.
Full Disk Encryption (FDE) encrypts your hard disc using a password or, increasingly, biometric data, making it nearly impossible for an attacker to access.
The average cost of a lost laptop to businesses was reduced by approximately $20,000 thanks to encryption software, according to a recent study by security research firm Ponemon.
As a result, purchasing effective encryption software is a wise investment.
3. Password Manager
The majority of Internet users need to remember hundreds of passwords for various services, including social networking, online banking and shopping, email accounts, work logins, and more. Many people use the same password for several accounts because they find it difficult to remember various distinct passwords with appropriate complexity.
Because of this, hackers looking through data breaches and password dumps, which occur quite frequently, can access several internet accounts with just one password.
Use of a password manager is the answer. These incredibly safe applications, which are accessible on your computer, smartphone, and tablet, save all of your passwords securely and under encryption.
One master password is all you need to remember; the programme handles the rest.
So you don’t have to remember them all, or worse, write them down someplace, you may use passwords that are suitably lengthy and nearly hard to guess.
4. Firewall & Virus/Malware Scanner
As vital as it is to safeguard your online activities, protecting the data on your computer or mobile device should also be a priority.
If a cybercriminal obtains access to your hard disc directly, even the strongest passwords and most secure networks won’t help much.
And given that more than 350,000 new harmful programmes are developed and released into the online world every day, that danger is quite real.
Due to this, it’s crucial to have a powerful firewall installed, which guards your computer from harmful incoming or outgoing connections, as well as a reliable virus and malware scanner, to ensure no unwanted applications are hidden on your hard drive.
Not only are smartphones and tablets required to have their own specialised mobile antivirus software, but desktop and portable PCs as well.
5. Data Breach and Dark Net Scanner
However, leaks and data breaches continue to be an unhappy reality even if you utilise a password manager.
To rapidly determine if your personal information is at risk, it’s crucial to often verify the status of your passwords.
But how? Fortunately, there are several programmes that can search the internet and the dark net (a section of the internet that is inaccessible to most people) for your login information.
The HaveIBeenPwned.com website is one of the most well-known methods for doing this. Just input your email address, and the website will notify you if it turns up in any of the hundreds of millions of compromised logins that have been discovered so far.
They have created browser plug-ins as have others for popular browsers including Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. Finally, this capability is included in a lot of decent password managers (see above), which is still another benefit of using one.
In conclusion
Although cyber assaults are on the rise, a few easy tools can help people safeguard their personal data and organisations reduce the expenses associated with data breaches and lost or stolen gear. Your online and offline security will improve and your privacy will increase if you use each of these five technologies effectively.
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