All of us are at risk for cybersecurity threats, whether you are just an individual, have small scale business, or a huge enterprise. The most alarming thing is, we are not aware that we can be a target. As technology progresses, attackers can now target hundreds and thousands of people who are unaware that they can be an easy target.
Here Are Top 5 Cyber Security Threats:
- Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks happen when attackers pretend to be a trusted contact and ask you to give them access to your sensitive information, account details, and credentials.
- Malware Attacks
It is done using malicious code (Trojans and Viruses) to gain access, steal and destroy data on your computer.
- Ransomware
Attackers encrypt company data to prohibit access and then ask the company to pay ransom to gain back access.
- Weak Passwords
Using weak or easy to guess passwords is also a cyber threat. You can be at risk if the attackers get a hold of your passwords.
- Insider Threats
Negligence and Malice from an employee or someone you know can be a threat to your security.
Whether you don’t know about technology or are careful about your security, you can still be vulnerable to these threats. Follow these six necessary steps to defend yourself or your company against a cyber attack.
Be Aware of The Security Threats
For you to defend yourself in this unfortunate situation, you should first be aware of all the security threats you’ll encounter. Some of us are not aware that just clicking something on the web browser or email can be a cyber threat. Hackers and cybercriminals use a lot of methods to infiltrate your computer network. Protect yourself and communicate with everyone in your company about the risks and threats you can go through.
Use Strong Passwords
This is the easiest step to protect yourself from any cyber threats. Use a strong and complex password, preferably 12 characters or more with uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. Moreover, do not use sequential numbers or letters. Do not use the same passwords on different sites, and make sure that you regularly change your passwords.
Ensure that you don’t write your password or store them in a paper or on your phone where anyone can see them. If you want, you can use a password management application to protect your passwords. The stronger and secured your passwords are, the more challenging for hackers to crack it.
Install Reliable Security and Antivirus Software And Keep It Updated
We cannot understate the damage that malware and virus bring. Cyberattacks can destroy your data, spy on your system, and steal sensitive and confidential information. To keep you protected from viruses and threats, you should install security and antivirus software as they will actively scan for viruses. If you want to have a more secure system, you can opt to use IT services. They will not only look for malware and viruses that infiltrate your computer, but they will proactively prevent them from ever impacting your business and your data. Ensure that you have experts who will work to detect, assess, and manage risks, safeguarding your data.
Perform System Scans Daily
All of the threats mentioned in the first part of the article are equally harmful and can happen every day. They are powerful and can break your protection and result in a lot more damage to your system and security. Ensure that you perform a system scan daily to detect and remove anything suspicious in your network. Performing scans daily is a wise step to prevent any damage before it happens.
Execute System Back-Ups Regularly
Worse comes to worst, you will lose everything because of the cyber attack. Your data will be stolen, destroyed, or locked from you. A great way to save yourself from a lot of misery is to execute system back-up regularly. System back-ups will ensure that you can retrieve your files and everything on your computer no matter what happens. There are many ways to do system back-ups.
- Use a Cloud Storage Service
- Back-Up Over the Internet
- Create a clone of your hard drive
- Back-Up to an External Drive
Be Cautious and Know What to Do After Cyber Attack
Be cautious in everything that you do and open through your computer. Avoid malicious sites, opening emails, and downloading anything. If you believe that you’ve become a victim, you need to know how to respond to it as soon as possible. Report to the authorities, gather any information you have and place fraud alerts on everything.
Cyber attackers will attack your vulnerability and unawareness. One single sign of those can make you a victim. With these couple of tips mentioned above, you can be assured that you are one step ahead of everyone.