It’s no secret that the internet has become a breeding ground for hackers and criminals. The headlines are full of stories about people getting their identities stolen, their money drained from bank accounts, or worse yet, being blackmailed.
It’s not just celebrities who have been hacked either – it happens to ordinary citizens too. And the scary thing is that hacks at times do occur due to weakness from your side. Here’s how to arm yourself well.
1) Use a Password Manager
You might think that because your passwords are different on every site, they would be safe – but this isn’t always true. All of those sites can be breached by one hacker if he gets into any of them.
They can then use the information there to access all your other accounts. This is why you need a password manager.
With it, you can have unique and complex passwords for each site while still only remembering one master password that will unlock all of them at once. You even don’t have to place your master password. Password Managers come with several built-in security features so they can be accessed only by you.
It’s essential to seek professional help on the different forms of password hacks. This way, you learn the best ways to safety. If it’s phishing, for instance, professional guidance in business and enterprises will show you how best to enlighten you on the threats to your business security.
In the modern world, it’s worthwhile to learn about the different routes cybercriminals use in laying traps.
2) Utilize Multi-Factor Authentication
Don’t think that just because you have a secure password with numbers and letters, numbers, and special characters make it safe from being hacked. That’s not enough to protect your accounts anymore. Hackers are now targeting the user themselves by utilizing phishing and social engineering.
Criminals will wait until you’re logged in before they try to hack you. So, before logging in through your password, the site will ask you to enter a different 6-digit number sent directly to your phone via text or an authenticator app.
This way, even if criminals manage to hack into your account and get your password, they can’t log in without getting a hold of your phone, too, because your password will not work without the other number.
3) Update Everything Possible
If you want to keep yourself protected from the latest hacks, you should always try to update everything possible. Software makers release new patches and updates to patch any vulnerabilities found in the system, and hackers could use these holes in security for their benefit.
So if something like this happens and a hacker uses this vulnerability to gain access to people’s information, it will be your fault for not being up-to-date with the latest changes that could have closed this vulnerability.
4) Constantly Clean Your Digital Footprint
It is a dangerous world out there for sure, and you don’t want to make yourself an easy target. If you’re already a victim of phishing, curious hackers can use that information to hack into your accounts. You need to make sure that there is no trace of your email address or phone number from those sites anymore.
You should go on a deleting spree and clean out the list of every site where you’ve registered with any personal information because if any of those sites get hacked and used against you, then that can spell doom for your whole security system.
5) Invest in Encryption
Encryption is when information is in a code form that only those with the correct key can unlock. It means that even if hackers were to get their hands on your data, it would be useless because they won’t be able to read it.
Plus, even if they manage to get the key, they will have to spend a lot of time decrypting everything, which can be much more complex than getting into an unencrypted system.
The first thing you should do is create a strong password with numbers and letters mixed with special characters. You also need to use two-step verification like an authenticator app.
You can’t rely on just one form of protection because it won’t be effective against the modern hacker. It’s always good to seek professional guidance from experts on various forms of password attacks.
