Cybersecurity has emerged as a top priority for organizations and consumers alike, especially following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. It led to new ways of living and working with a huge reliance on digital infrastructure that remains vulnerable to cyberattacks. The dangers posed by cybersecurity threats are always changing, so it can be hard for businesses to keep up.
According to Keeper, the average U.S. business experiences 42 cyberattacks in a year. A great majority of respondents believe that the total number of attacks will increase over the next year. 39% predict that the number of successful cyberattacks will also increase.
How do cybercriminals target their victims?
- Taking advantage of bad cybersecurity practices of users
Cybercriminals know that we can be lazy when using the internet. They know that it takes effort to keep our passwords and personal information safe. But not everyone is willing to make that effort. Attackers understand that many systems have weaknesses, and if they look hard enough, they will find one.
- Exploiting personal information shared by users on social media
When you use social media, you share more and more of your personal information. This includes your physical and digital identity, with information like your full name, residential address, contact numbers, biometric details, location details, date of birth, and sometimes family members’ information. The more information you provide, the more likely you are to get targeted by cybercriminals.
Cybercriminals spend a lot of time learning about their target before they attack. This means that by the time they’re ready to attack, they know a lot about their target. They use things like social media and Google search techniques to get personal information about their target.
Top 6 cybersecurity best practices you cannot ignore
- Do not provide unnecessary personal information on social media
When you are creating a social media account, or when you are updating your information on an existing account, only enter the basic information required to activate the account. Do not provide excessive information that could put you at risk. For example, do not provide your date of birth, home address, or location details. And do not include your mobile number. Providing this information makes it easier for cybercriminals to find and exploit you. If you have already entered this information, set it to hidden so that it is not visible to other users. Or better yet, remove it from your profile altogether.
- Use stronger passwords and change them at least once a year
When creating a password, make it long and strong. Make it unique to that account. Social media platforms don’t remind you to change your password. So, you’ll have to remember to change your passwords at least once a year. If you have many accounts and passwords, then use an enterprise password and privileged account vault to easily manage them. Avoid using the same password multiple times.
Source: Twitter
- Create and maintain multiple digital identities
Create multiple accounts to reduce the risk of someone getting your information. Make different email accounts for different purposes. For example, use one email account for low-risk communication, another one for subscribing to online newsletters and using Wi-Fi, and one for social media use. This will reduce the chance that someone will get your information if they hack into one account. It also limits the risks associated with having all your information in one place.
- Before clicking on anything, examine if it is expected, valid, and trusted
Be careful when you get a message that has a link in it, even if it looks like it’s from a friend or a trusted organization. Before clicking on it, take a moment to ask yourself if you were expecting this message, whether you know the sender, or does it seem to be a phishing email. If you’re not sure of the authenticity of the message, then try to contact the sender and ask if they sent you the link. Random links could be malware, ransomware, or anything else that could steal or access your data. Nearly one-third of people will click on malicious links. Therefore, there is a need to be more aware and cautious.
- Limit your activities over public Wi-Fi
It is not safe to use a public Wi-Fi network without a VPN. You should use your cell phone network instead when you need security. When using public Wi-Fi, ask the vendor for the correct name of the Wi-Fi Access point and make sure it has security. Disable Auto-Connect Wi-Fi or enable Ask to Join Networks. This is because your device will auto-connect to fake Wi-Fi Access points created by attackers without your knowledge. Do not opt to remember the Wi-Fi network on public access points. Also, use the latest web browsers as they have improved security for fake websites that can steal your information if you enter your credentials.
Browse using a least privileged user or standard user when connected to public Wi-Fi. Someone could be monitoring your data so, do not access sensitive data like financial information or change passwords while using public Wi-Fi.
- Enable privacy settings, improve default security settings, and set up alerts on your device
Most social media networks are open by default and do not have very good security features. However, you can change your settings to make your account more private. You should also use multi-factor authentication whenever it is available. This will make it harder for someone to hack into your account. Finally, be sure to set up alerts and notifications so that you are quickly notified if anyone tries to access your account or if there is any suspicious activity.
Wrapping up:
In a world with 3.5 billion internet users, cybersecurity is more important than ever.
Cybersecurity solutions like Acronis provide cyber protection that goes beyond a simple backup or antivirus. It helps you protect your digital world from all cyber threats with a unique integration of data protection and cybersecurity. Acronis enables you to block cyber-attacks in real time with regular antivirus scans which are powered by machine learning.
Acronis’ advanced anti-malware protects your device from known and unknown malware, ransomware, cryptojackers, and fileless attacks. Additionally, behavioral analysis and dynamic detection rules help to protect you from any emerging threats.
By following best practices and implementing ethical standards, we can make sure that our data is safe from attack.
What are you doing to ensure the safety of your data? Let us know in the comments below.
Read next: Top 10 IT security threats to your business that you should know
