Foolproof Ways to Keep Yourself Safe from Cyber Security Threats
For so many years, internet users have been fighting cyber crime threats to keep their personal information and important data safe and secure. And while online security software and tools have improved over the years, cyber criminals are also refining their ways to get more victims. Since our technologies are constantly evolving, especially with AI on the rise, it’s the best time for us to strengthen our cyber security strategies as well. Since most of us have been using the internet for quite some time, many of us have been complacent, especially if we’ve never become victims in the past. Unfortunately, that could change in a snap.
That’s why we’re here to share foolproof ways to keep yourself safe from cyber security threats. Keep in mind that no matter how great your internet plan or internet provider is, you’re not 100% safe from these threats. So, regardless if you have Dish Network Internet, Verizon Fios, or others, you’ve got to keep these tips in mind. But before that, we’ll share the different types of cyber security threats out there.
Common Cyber Security Threats
You know how sometimes you hear about people getting tricked online or their devices acting weird? Those are actually cyber security threats. These threats are performed by cyber crminals who want to steal your information like online banking details or confidential information, mess with your mobile phone or laptop, or lock you out of your accounts. Here are the most common types of cyber security threats:
- Phishing
- Malware
- Ransomware
- Man-in-the-middle attacks
- Denial-of-sevice (DoS) attacks
- Social engineering
- Zero-day attacks
There are more cyber security threats, but these seven are among the most common ones you might encounter (hopefully not though). To give you a better idea, a great example would be a fake advertisement online. The ad says “Metronet offers free high-speed internet for a year for the first 100 to click this ad!”.
Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, that’s because it probably is. This could be a phishing scam, a type of cyber security threat that tries to trick you into clicking on a malicious link or entering personal information. The fake link might take you to a website that looks real, but it’s actually designed to steal your credit card details or login information for your Metronet account. Sneaky, right?
7 Ways to Keep Yourself Safe from Cyber Security Threats
The internet is a fantastic tool, but it’s important to know how to stay safe. As we’ve mentioned earlier, if you’ve been using the internet for quite some time, you might have gotten a little relaxed about some security practices. But don’t worry. We’re here to give you a refresher’s course about cyber security. Here are foolproof cyber security tips to keep in mind:
- Use strong passwords.
This is the most basic yet the most overlooked cyber security strategy. It might seem like a simple task that won’t do much protection from skilled cyber criminals or hackers, but it makes a big difference. What is considered a strong password? Great question. Well, strong questions are long and complex that contains numbers, special characters, and a combination of lower and uppercase letters.
As much as possible, you should avoid using passwords associated with you, such as your name, your pet’s name, your birthdate, and other guessable information that even your closest friends can figure out.
- Click wisely.
Clicking on stuff is very easy, but it doesn’t mean you should. Just like our example above, you should always avoid clicking suspicious links that are too good to be true or those from unknown senders. Another common strategy cyber criminals use for phishing is that they use email addresses or websites that are close to the legitimate company they’re impersonating.
Some of the things you should look into are grammatical errors and typos, mismatched display name and email address, and links that don’t go where they say they will. So for instance, if you’re interested in Boost Infinite Plans and receive an email that appears to be from “BoostInfinte.com” (notice the missing ‘i’) with a subject line like “Exclusive Offer: Upgrade Your Phone for FREE,” be cautious as this could be a phishing attempt.
- Don’t share everything online.
Sharing stuff online has been the norm for many years, especially on social media platforms. Unfortunately, even though sharing online can be a fun way to connect with friends and family, it’s important to be mindful of what you reveal. Oversharing personal information can have negative consequences such as identity theft, safety risks, privacy violations, and more.
- Use an antivirus software.
Having an antivirus software is a must for internet users, as it creates an added layer of protection from specific cyber threats. While it usually comes with an added cost, the benefits mostly outweigh the cost you pay for it, especially if you’re a heavy internet user that uses the web for a lot of stuff, including online banking and cloud storage. You wouldn’t want these data to fall in the wrong hands.
When choosing an antivirus software, make sure that it’s credible. Meaning, it already has an established number of users that are satisfied with the software’s overall performance. When it comes to this, it’s not also worth it skimping, as it may do more harm than good.
- Keep your device up-to-date.
Developers often release updates regularly to address different things, mostly about bugs, security, and performance improvement. These updates can fix vulnerabilities in your device’s software that hackers could exploit to steal your information or install malware. Regular updates can also iron out bugs that cause crashes or slow down your device, which makes it run smoother and more efficiently.
The Bottom Line
Cyber criminals are becoming more and more creative each day, which only means that we’re becoming more at risk if we don’t take steps to protect ourselves. That’s why it’s very important to follow these simple yet effective cybersecurity practices to reduce your chances of falling victim to an attack. Staying safe online is an ongoing process, so make it a habit.
