How to Protect Yourself From Hackers – Cyber Security Tips

Cyber security is an important issue not for just businesses and government but also for individuals. The digital devices such as mobile phones and computers can be taken over by hackers. It makes your important information including your name, contact number, email, birth date, bank and financial details, and credit card numbers available to the hacker.

Your personal information can be misused by the hacker for monetary gain or some other objective. We all should protect information related to us and other people. For this, we need to understand what cyber security is and how can we protect ourselves and the people around us by adopting a few effective practices.

An Overview of Cyber Security

Your digital devices such as mobile phones and computers contain important information about different aspects of your life. It includes but not limited to your contact information, online chats, offline chats, emails, photos, videos and credentials of online accounts. You may have to compromise on your data if a hacker takes over your device. 

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Cyber security refers to practices and technologies used to protect important information from potential cyber dangers such as scams, hacking and computer-assisted frauds. The hackers target a device to access, modify or destroy sensitive data saved on that device for monetary gain. The implementation of cyber security enables individuals and business organizations to protect their devices, systems and networks from hacking and cyber-attacks.

How to Prevent Hacking with Cyber Security

There is no doubt that the sensitive data stored on digital devices is essential to safeguard from hacking, viruses and malware. By using cyber security measures, you can protect your devices and networks. Given are a few practices of safe cyber security. 

1. Prevent Phishing Emails

Do you know about phishing or scam emails? Have you ever received an uninvited email from an unexpected sender? It is likely a phishing email sent by a hacker. The phishing emails are designed by hackers to con the target. Such emails contain links or attachments that lead the receiver to a scam website. 

Downloading and opening the infected attachments can make the receiver lose control over the device. Responding to such fraud emails can make you lose your information as well as the data relevant to another person saved on your device. Do not respond to an email you are not sure about. If you are suspicious, you may contact the sender of the email through a different email ID or another means of communication such as texting or calling. 

2. Beware of Scareware

It is very likely to receive an email warning the receiver about a security software installed on the device. Such emails are known as scareware. Like phishing emails, the scareware emails are also sent by unidentified sources.

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While surfing on the internet browser, you may receive word of warning opening in a new window claiming to find an issue in your device or security software. It is better to ignore such messages because clicking on these ads and following the instructions given in these ads can infect your device.

3. Install Antivirus

It is crucial to get all your digital devices installed with a good antivirus. Many people do not install antivirus apps on their smartphones but it is recommended to install the anti-malware app on your phone to avoid viruses and cyber-attacks. Also, make sure to update the antivirus program frequently because an older version may not be potential enough to detect and prevent the newest malware and viruses. 

4. Use an Ad Blocker

Using an adblocker can protect you from scam ads and scareware automatically appearing on the internet browser. You can install the ad blocker extension on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or any other internet browser installed on your computer device. Using an ad blocker on your kids’ computer devices can also protect them from being exposed to sexually explicit, objectionable and trapping ads designed by scammers and hackers.

5. Avoid Using Public WiFi

If possible then don’t use public Wifi and if it’s necessary then don’t use banking services or any service which requires your personal information such as your credit card details, net banking id or password.

Your personal information can be stolen using MITM ( Man in the middle attack ).  Using MITM you can even be redirected to another website and everything is possible like to whom you are communicating with, your photos, media, chat and everything.

6. Avoid Using Public Computers

If you have to use public computers then don’t login your personal account such as facebook, twitter, Instagram or any social networking site because they might be using keyloggers to steal the information entered by you. So be very cautious while using public computers until it’s urgent.

7. Use Two Factor Authentication

Use two factor authentication on all your social media accounts. If you will use this then if any attacker or somebody manages to steal or theft your social media password then the attacker will not be able to login without the pin which is sent in two factor authentication and your account will be completely safe from the attacker and you’ll not be a victim of it.

8. Avoid Posting Personal Information Online

Your personal information such as name, photos, contact and email address can be misused by hackers. The scammers steal your data to create fake accounts for illegal activities and purchase forbidden products.

You never know about your data being used by scoundrels until you become a crime suspect and avoid using the location tag on your social media accounts at the time you are at a specific cafe or restaurant because on the basis of that location you can be kidnapped or anything unwanted can happen.

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