Keep Your Online Life And Your Digital Assets Safe From Hackers
There is no way to avoid having your sensitive personal information stored online in the 21st century.
Our banks want us to make online accounts. Most of us communicate exclusively through Facebook direct messages. We need to have email accounts for work.
Despite all of us having these kinds of accounts with many different companies – most of us have never been taught how to protect ourselves and our information online.
Today, we are going to take the first steps toward getting you educated on that topic. Here are 6 things you need to know to keep yourself safe online.
#1 – Complex Passwords
Password management is something that you can change today and it will make a huge difference to how safe you are online.
What you make your passwords can be the difference between someone hacking you in minutes and a machine taking months if not years to guess your password.
The current recommendation from the government is that you use three random words to create a password – they shouldn’t have anything to do with you or your life.
However, big tech companies suggest that you go more complex. Google recommends that you use a randomly generated string of 12 numbers and letters.
#2 – Don’t Autosave Your Passwords
Both Chrome and Safari will offer to save your passwords and credit card details and attach them to your Google or IOS account.
We understand that it can be difficult to remember all of your complex passwords. However, doing this means that if someone hacks your main account, they will then have access to all of your accounts and your credit card information.
There has been some research done to suggest a password management company with a two-factor authentication system could be a more secure option. Or writing down your passwords in a book or offline word processing document.
#3 – Use Temporary Email Addresses
Did you know that companies are allowed to collect and sell your data? This is completely legal for them to do.
The real danger of this is that the databases that they keep this information in are often targets of hacking attempts. Hackers will use the information they gather to try to get into other accounts.
This is why it is so important your passwords are not inspired by your life.
You can protect your information by signing up for new accounts with temporary emails. We recommend that you use a trusted site like https://Maildim.Com/ to manage these emails for you.
#4 – Keep Your Technology Up To Date
Are you the type of person that puts off installing hardware and software updates for as long as possible?
Well, this habit could actually be putting you at risk and you don’t even realize it.
Most software and hardware updates are created out of necessity – for example, windows might ask you to update your operating system because they have found a bug that makes your PC vulnerable to hackers.
If you update your software as soon as you are prompted, the weak links in the chain will not be there. But if you wait, you are allowing hackers more time to try and exploit the bug or software issue.
#5 – Use Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication can feel really frustrating most of the time when we have to use it. This is why many companies were slow to introduce it, even though it has been shown to be a pivotal tool when it comes to cybersecurity.
However, in the last 3-4 years, all the large tech companies have started making two-factor authentication mandatory. This tool has the potential to shut down 90% of hacking attempts.
When prompted to set up two-factor authentication, say yes. That way, no one will be able to get into your accounts unless they have access to your passwords, your personal questions, and your phone.
#6 – Lean To Spot Phishing Attempts
Finally, you should take some time to educate yourself on the world of phishing. Especially if you own any NFTs or Cryptocurrency.
Because of the way these assets are stored in the blockchain, they can actually be stolen by someone getting into your account or by getting access to your data.
Phishing.org has a wide range of resources that you can use to improve your knowledge. If you are worried that someone is trying to phish, then do not log into anything using your real email address, get a temporary one.
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