It never seems to end the onslaught of bad news in regards to individuals, governments and businesses getting hacked on a daily basis. If it's not Ransomware or some virus that is taking down a multi national firm or Joe six pack at home, it's some new-fangled security risk or threat that inevitably touches someone we know.
When you are an individual or small business you don't have the same resources of a government agency or larger business with a dedicated team of IT professionals that can help to mitigate most if not all of these cyber threats that are facing us today. So, what can the little guy do to help protect themselves on the cheap?
The first question you need to ask yourself is, what are the potential dangers I need to protect myself from? Without going into too much detail, here is a list of the top 5 cyber issues facing folks these days in no particular order:
Virus, Malware, Ransomware, Phishing and Trojans
Hacking
Not keeping your operating system and malware software up to date
Firewalls not being properly locked down
Bad or no Password protection
The top items listed generally fall into a similar category. You open a link in an email that you shouldn't have or you clicked on something on a website you shouldn't have, etc. The chance of getting hacked is minute in comparison to getting infected by malware. You must have data that someone wants and has the skills and abilities to actually pull off the crime. Not keeping your OS or malware software up to date is an obvious one as that is the front line entrance and defense for your hardware. Firewalls, either software in your OS or hardware related to your router as an example, if not properly secured can also be an access point for cyber criminals. Finally, password protection! Something as simple as having a strong password can help to dissuade people from stealing your identity.
So now that we have a list of what are the potential threats out there, how can we take the precautions necessary to stay secure on a limited or no budget at all? Here are the aforementioned threats:
How to defeat virus's, malware, ransomware, etc.? Acquire good habits! Do not click on links you are unaware of who or where they come from. If you are in doubt about said link from family, friend or colleague, send them a new email to confirm or pick up the phone. Don't go to websites that are suspect or might not have the "HTTPS" protocol. (Not that every HTTPS website is 100% guaranteed safe but safer than just HTTP) Following these good habits will invariably save your bacon 99% of the time.
Hacking! As mentioned earlier, if a PRO really wants your data, they will probably find a way to get it. If you lock your car for example, you can generally avoid crimes of opportunity as the bad guys are looking for the easy in and out. By using a VPN or virtual private network when at a coffee shop or any open hot spot, you can significantly reduce the chances of being hacked. There are many FREE VPNs on the market and I suggest you read as many reviews as you can to find out which one works for you.
Keep your OS or operating system as well as your malware or anti virus software constantly up to date. A large portion of the planet uses the Microsoft OS and it's Office products. Cyber criminals are looking at finding vulnerabilities to get around these products and infect your system with various key logging and other malware. By updating these pieces of software on a regular basis can help to offset any potential cyber nightmares! There are a ton of FREE anti virus and malware software programs out there. So do your research online and find the best product for you like finding the right VPN as mentioned earlier.
Firewalls or routers not being locked down? If you have an internet connection at home and work, you most certainly have a router or a modem that you purchased or your ISP supplied you with. Leaving your router WIFI open and not secure is an open invitation to the criminal element to infiltrate your home or office and wreak havoc. Most of the time your OS firewall should be already locked down, but it is always good to check from time to time especially after an OS update.
Finally, password protection! As simple as it sounds having a strong password with more than 8 characters using a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols, will help to make things much more difficult for the bad guys.
"But I have a thousand passwords to remember, how can I possibly remember them all?"
Use a FREE password manager! This can really help you. Once again, do your research and find the one that works best for you.
This is just a starting point to help mitigate the risk and damage from cyber crime and stay safer. If you follow my advice by using sound judgement in your every day use of opening emails, going to websites and forming good cyber habits, you will decrease the likelihood of getting a virus or it's other counterparts. Here is some bonus advice that will make your life easier:
Use cloud storage and an external hard drive. Back up, back up, back up is my mantra. There is nothing worse than making it through unscathed from being infected or attacked only to have your hard drive die on you! Although an external hard drive does cost money you can always get FREE cloud storage to help back up your information in case of a nasty computer failure. Check out the many available online.
Research APPS or software before you download. Not everything FREE comes consequence free! Some apps or software have malicious coding and can infect your phones or computers.
Be careful with your identity, especially on social media. Make sure you lock down your settings on those sites and keep your personal information to a minimum. You don't want the bad guys to know you're on vacation and no one is home!
Use two-factor authentication. This is an easy one for anyone who has a cell phone and a computer. If you get hacked or someone gets their hands on your passwords, having Two-factor authentication can be a real life saver.
I hope this article helps out anyone who was curious or struggling to find a solution to what they can possibly do economically to help protect themselves from cyber troubles. In full disclosure, I am not an IT professional but someone who has seen his fair share of friends, family and colleagues who have come to me with any and all of these issues at some point. I have done lots research on these topics over the years and so far have been successful in eluding any harm coming into my systems. (Knock on wood it continues that way)
Photo by Petter Lagson on Unsplash
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Chris Holm Southern Alberta Representative at GCR Agencies Published • 2w 1 article
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