Technology is ever changing and continues to gain a more important role in our lives. There are always new ways on how we should be securing our devices, but there are four fundamental principles that you can always do to protect yourself, regardless of what technology you are using or where you use it.
- You: No matter how secure your device is, or is not, attackers will always find a way to gain your password, credit card information or other personal data. The greatest defense against these attackers is you. By being suspicious and using common sense, you can spot and stop most attacks. Think before you give someone you do not know your information or click on an unknown link.
- Passwords: The next way to protect yourself is by using a strong, unique password for each of your online accounts and devices. This way, if one password is compromised, all of your other accounts and devices will remain secure. A strong password means one that cannot be easily guessed by attackers. The longer and more complex it is, the stronger it is. When it is available, you should always use two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security.
- Updates: By making sure your computers, mobile devices, apps, and anything else connected to the Internet are running the latest software versions; you are limiting the vulnerabilities that can be exploited by an attacker.
- Backups: Make sure you are doing regular backups of any important information and verify that you can restore from them. These will come in handy if you are hacked, and your device needs to be fully wiped and rebuilt from scratch.