5 Ways to Keep Your Internet Secure
Our world is more connected than ever. This means that effective digital security is paramount, especially for businesses and vital services such as the healthcare industry who have a great deal of information and capital at risk. Individuals are not immune from the need to increase their online protection protocols, though. Just because you don’t think you have anything worth stealing doesn’t mean that the average malicious hacker agrees. Here are five cutting-edge ways to keep your information safe.
1. Switch to Passwordless Authentication
We’re all used to having to pass through a seemingly endless series of security portals just to get to our own accounts. It’s annoying of course, but more troubling is the knowledge that as exploits get more sophisticated, measures such as passwords become less able to cope with security threats. At the forefront of streamlining the process of secure login is passwordless authentication. These programs use what’s called a cryptographic key pair; a public key provided during registration to a site and a private key kept on the user’s device, accessible only via an “authentication factor” such as a QR code or biometric scan. This technology promises to revolutionize internet security, so start learning about its potential now so you can figure out if it’s right for you or your business.
2. Install and Update Antivirus Software
Another vital security protocol to have in place is the installation of antivirus software. These programs vary in cost and effectiveness, but all of them guard against malicious software making its way onto your computer. It’s worth investing money in a firewall program that monitors incoming and outgoing web traffic for suspicious activity. Also remember that intrusion software like viruses and worms are constantly being improved upon by their creators. Install any antivirus updates or software security patches immediately after they become available.
3. Make Stronger Passwords
One of the most costly (and simplest) mistakes that people make in online security is choosing a weak password. Users have a tendency to make their password something that they can remember easily, something that’s special to them like a pet’s name or favorite food. Unfortunately, if a password is easy for you to guess, it’s also easy for a criminal to figure out if they know even a modicum of information about you. Don’t try to get too creative when choosing a strong password. Make it a random string of numbers and letters and always include symbols in the string if you can.
4. Get Professional Help
Not all hackers are the malicious kind! In fact, many if not most hackers are of the ethical sort; these are people who have pledged to use their seemingly outlaw skills for good. Many freelance cyber-sleuths have played a pivotal role in the development of cyber security systems. Individuals and businesses can hire these experts to invade their systems on purpose in order to discover security holes that might have gone unnoticed just by focusing on defense. For people who have a background in non-technical professions such as social workers or teachers, learning everything there is to know about cyber security is simply unrealistic. Paying someone who spends their life in the online world for assistance is well worth the investment.
5. Don’t Click the Clickbait
Be careful what you click. This goes beyond just making sure that an advertisement you click on leads to a safe site (though this is important). So-called “Phishing” occurs when a cyber criminal sends you what looks like a legitimate website in order to trick you into giving them secure information. Worse, some links can cause malware to download automatically to your device. Never click on text message links or emails if you’re not completely sure of the source. If something seems off to you, trust your instincts.
Whether you’re a private individual working from a home computer or a large business with billions of dollars in assets, we all use the same internet, and are therefore vulnerable to the same security issues. Take cyber security seriously. It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep the online world safe.
