Cyber Security Awareness Month is a good way of reminding us all of what we should do to keep our passwords and accounts safe from criminals. Several million cases of fraud and of computer misuse are reported to the police every year. It’s staggering, but even more staggering is that so many of those crimes could have been prevented by making a few small changes in online behaviour. In this blog we share our top tips to take the first steps in protecting yourself from cybercrimes.
Use strong passwords
One of the easiest ways internet users can fall victim to cybercrimes is through easily guessed passwords. Therefore, we recommend you create strong passwords by using the following:
- A combination of upper- and lower-case letters.
- Include numbers and symbols.
- Never include your name, birthday or other personal information.
- Use different passwords for different applications.
- Always create passwords with at least 12 characters.
Ensure all software is up to date
Software updates do not only include new features, they are also designed to strengthen the stability of any software and tackle the latest viruses. Not staying up to date with software updates compromises your cybersecurity massively in comparison to those who do.
Be sure to have antivirus software installed
It’s vital you have antivirus software installed. Antivirus software detects and removes files before they can do any serious damage to your device & files.
Use public Wi-Fi cautiously
When using public Wi-Fi you should be cautious of what files you open as hackers can create unsafe networks or steal your information through an unsecure connection.
Regularly backup your data
Regular backups of your data are one way to protect yourself in the unfortunate situation of falling victim to an attack. For best practice, use the 3-2-1 approach. Have three copies of your data, on two different storage mediums, with one off-site copy.
