There are now few people who don’t keep their lives on a device of some sort. From friendships to banking and everything between; we are the technological generation. While once, we worried about street crime and robbery, that now seems like less of a risk. Few of us carry cash. And, our personal details are safely stored away on our devices.
But, does that mean we’re safe from worry? Far from it.
In fact, our safety is more at risk than ever. While a thief may get a little cash and some cards, a cyber hacker can access everything. So, what can we do about the problem?
Here are some tips on how to protect yourself personally and professionally in this world gone mad:
Street Crime
- Be aware of your surroundings: This is the most important tip for protecting yourself from street crime. Always be aware of your surroundings, and be on the lookout for anything suspicious.
- Avoid walking alone at night: If you must walk alone at night, try to stay in well-lit areas and avoid deserted streets.
- Don’t carry large amounts of cash: If you do need to carry cash, try to keep it in a hidden pocket or purse.
- Don’t wear flashy jewelry or clothing: This can make you a target for criminals.
- If you are attacked, fight back: If you are attacked, fight back as hard as you can. The more resistance you put up, the less likely the attacker is to succeed.
Cyber Crime
- Use strong passwords: Your passwords should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts: This makes it easier for hackers to gain access to your accounts if one of them is compromised.
- Be careful about what information you share online: Don’t share your personal information, such as your address or phone number, with people you don’t know.
- Keep your software up to date: Software updates often include security patches that can help protect your devices from malware.
- Use a firewall and antivirus software: A firewall can help protect your computer from unauthorized access, and antivirus software can help detect and remove malware.
- Be careful about what links you click on: Don’t click on links in emails or on websites unless you are sure they are safe.
- Be careful about what attachments you open: Don’t open attachments in emails or on websites unless you are sure they are safe.
- Back up your data regularly: This will help you recover your data if your devices are lost or stolen.
By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from street crime and cyber crime.
Being informed is your best chance of stopping them. And, it’s not only our personal lives that are at risk. With many businesses turning to technology too, they’re also in danger. Here’s how to protect yourself in your personal life, and your business world.
Personal Problems
Cyber Attack Prevention
So, what risks do cyber threats pose to your life? Most of us use social media more than anything else, so we’ll start there. A hacker can easily access your social media and start messing with things. Depending on their motivation, they could post spam, or target your friend list. They could use your account to lure people who trust you into a false sense of security. Of course, it’s not only social media that’s at risk. If you use online banking, a hacker could gain access to your passwords and take money without you realizing.
What can you do? Installing firewalls and antivirus software onto your computer is a must. This will go a long way towards protecting you. It can also be worth avoiding suspicious links, which are often how hackers gain access. It’s also crucial that you have different passwords for everything, and make them hard to crack. Using upper case letters and punctuation ensures no one will guess them.
Business Busts
5 Steps To Contain Data Security Breach In Your Business
And, what about business? In many ways, business breaches are worse than personal ones. While technology can make your business go boom, it can also result in disaster. Not only will you be putting your information at risk, but also that of the whole business. As most companies operate off one network, a hacker could gain access to everything.
Again, it’s worth doing all the above. You may want to take things further by doing a course on cyber security. You could take things all the way by doing a degree. But, how difficult is cyber security degree? Not as difficult as you think, and it has the potential to save your business. It’s also worth ensuring that everybody on your team knows the risks and how to avoid them. You’re all in this together.
The main thing to remember is that you can never be too careful. Don’t fall into the false impression that anti-virus software is all it takes. Hackers are intelligent and are forever developing new ways to breach security. Make sure you’re one step ahead of their game.