Did you know that the estimates on global hacking damages say we will see a whopping $10 trillion in damages across all industries and worldwide by 2025? Hackers are raising their game and show no weakness when it comes to doing what they are best in.
If you’re a business owner or an individual, you naturally want to stay protected. With the technology going forward, everyone thought that hacking will be a thing of the past, but it seems that as ordinary people use it to protect themselves, so are hackers using it to their advantage.
With the rise of AI and artificially intelligent software, anti-hacking applications grew to another level. They are now capable of taking action that used to be unimaginable just a few years back. The problem is – just as anti-hacking antivirus programs became advanced, hackers also started using AI for their needs.
Now, the entire hacking game is so complex, that it takes a true professional to be on your side if you want to stay protected. This is why we’re offering a few cyber security solutions used by professionals to help you stay protected and never fall victim.
1. Use strong and unique passwords
First things – first. The most important thing is to create strong and unique passwords for all your online accounts. Use a combination of letters, uppercase and lowercase, then numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessable information such as your name, birthdate, or common words. Consider using a password manager to securely store and generate strong passwords.
The reason for this is that AI now guesses simple passwords within seconds. Since lots of hackers use AI today, it won’t be too hard for them to guess what your passwords are, but if you think of a stronger one, it will not be as easy for them.
2. Enable two-factor authentication
Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a unique code sent to your mobile device, in addition to your password.
Most of today’s apps, especially those involved in finance, such as e-banking, crypto wallets, etc, will use 2FA technology. This shows you when someone’s trying to break inside your account and lets you take immediate action.
3. Keep software and operating systems updated
Regularly update your operating system, software, and applications. Software updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities hackers may exploit. Enable automatic updates whenever possible to ensure you’re running the latest and most secure versions.
Hackers will notice if some of your programs are outdated and use this to their advantage. An outdated version of the software may cause a serious breach in security that will surely be used by pro-hackers. Using these backdoors, they may enter without you even noticing.
4. Be cautious of phishing attempts
Phishing is a form of hacking that relies on human behavior. When you receive an email from your boss, you naturally get upset and instantly click on whatever link they provided in that email. The problem is, you didn’t notice the email isn’t from your boss, but a hacker pretending to be them.
Be also vigilant about phishing attempts, where hackers try to trick you into revealing sensitive information by posing as legitimate organizations. Avoid clicking on suspicious links in emails, messages, or pop-up windows. Verify the authenticity of requests by contacting the organization directly through official channels.
5. Use secure networks and encryption
When accessing the internet, avoid using public Wi-Fi networks for sensitive activities like online banking or entering personal information. If you must use public Wi-Fi, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection and protect your data from eavesdropping.
Although most of the situations won’t do any harm to you, it takes just one time for a hacker to be nearby and pick up your credentials. Public networks are easily accessible by anyone and using them to log in means you might be hurt.
6. Regularly back up your data
In many cases, hackers will be after the information you have. If you’re running a business, sensitive information may be key for hackers to steal it and blackmail you for ransom. However, if you have regular backups, they won’t be able to do any damage.
Regularly back up your important data to an external hard drive, cloud storage, or another secure location. In case of a successful hacking attempt or data loss, you’ll have a copy of your valuable information that can be restored.
Conclusion
With everything written above, you now know how to stay protected. Have these points copied to your clipboard and paste them to a document that you can always come back to, and remind yourself what you must do. Don’t let hackers ruin everything you’ve been building for years.
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