Over the past two years, online hacking has significantly intensified, with an increasing number of companies being hacked each year. The issue is that when a company is hacked, it is not just the brand that is affected but also their customers, whose details are often what is leaked. There is a common misconception that hacking is not likely to happen, while that may have been true five years ago, it is not anymore.
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The fact is hacking is likely for businesses of all shapes and sizes, so regardless of how small or new your company is, you are still at risk of being hacked. The issue with hacking is that often, the reason a company or individual is hacked is because they make mistakes that make the hacking process an easier one.
Wondering what mistakes can make hacking more likely? Below is a guide to four mistakes to avoid if you don’t want your systems to get hacked.
Not using two-factor authentication
Cyber Attack Prevention
Passwords are incredibly hackable. The fact is all it takes is a phishing email or a piece of unnoticed malware, and your systems could be hacked, exposing your passwords, and this giving hackers access to whatever area of your system they want to access. However, if you implement a two-factor authentication system that combines a password and a code that is sent to your smartphone, then you can reduce the chance of being hacked.
Failing to check if public wi-fi is safe
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Be aware that public wi-fi isn’t always safe wi-fi. Did you know that it’s incredibly easy for hackers to set up fake wi-fi accounts that look like real ones? These can be used to hack into your computer more easily and gain access to your private data. Always ask an employee at the place that you are at, which wi-fi network is theirs so that you can ensure it is legitimate.
Not taking file security seriously
Did you know that when files are transferred, this is the prime time when they are hacked? The fact is that files are vulnerable to hackers, particularly if they are not transferred securely. When it comes to transferring files, it is important to control your file transfer and ensure that you password protect them. You can also choose to use a managed file transfer (MFT) software solution to transfer your files securely. After all, the last thing that you want is any of your company’s sensitive data being released to the world.
Creating guessable passwords
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Although passwords can get hacked, as mentioned above, that doesn’t render them useless. If you are smart about your passwords and come up with ones that are hard to guess, you will decrease your risk of hacking. Any passwords that include your year of birth, name or favourite sports team, are a no go. Anyone can find out this information. Instead, it is best to make your passwords random. Take a look at where you are sat now and consider what you can see – use the items in front of you to inspire you. Always use a combination of capitals, lower case letters, numbers, and punctuation marks for your passwords.
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There you have it, a guide to the four mistakes that will make it more likely that your computer system will get hacked. Take the above advice on board, and you can reduce this risk and make your network safer.