It’s hard to remember the threat of something when it’s not nearing or immediately present. When looking at cybersecurity, it is especially easy to dismiss potential risks and dangers, although much of our entire lives exist online.
However, despite the nonchalant feelings many have, data and internet security should not be taken lightly. There are serious risks when using technology, especially now that cybercrimes are up tremendously due to the pandemic. Although our technology frequently evolves and becomes more advanced, so do hackers, malware, and phishing scams, making them much harder to detect and prevent.
To help you stay up to date, we’ve gathered some of the most important data security tips to consider. We see that authentication efforts and the advancement of AI technology are on the rise, along with anticipating and responding to cyber threats in real-time. These cybercrime solutions will become more powerful and advantageous for all users.
4 DATA PROTECTION TIPS YOU NEED TO CONSIDER RIGHT NOW
With new challenges and trends come more tips and steps to follow to keep your data safe. As we’re in a new year with new advancements, you will want to look into additional cybersecurity steps if you are not already familiar with them.
1. ENCRYPTING YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION WITH A VPN
With attacks on public wi-fi becoming more prominent, your network needs to be as secure as possible to protect against cybercriminals. One of the most effective ways to secure your external network is using a VPN to encrypt your internet connection. A VPN will create a secure tunnel between your device and the internet. With this tunnel, you will send your data to an external server (your VPN) with a secure connection.
2. CHOOSING ONLY RELIABLE, SECURE CLOUD PROVIDERS
Cloud services have been highly beneficial for backing up and storing data for a while, but many companies have started to make a complete or hybrid migration as they shift to remote work. While cloud services are still at risk, they do make use of predictive analytics to enhance their security measures, leading to them identifying security threats before damage is done. If you are looking into a cloud service, make sure to do your research and choose a reliable and secure one.
3. USING TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION
If you aren’t already familiar with or using two-factor or multi-factor authentication, now would be a great time to set it up. Two-factor authentication is a type of password management that will increase the security of your standard password but require an additional layer of protection in the form of a personal identification code or another password — usually coming from a mobile device or email. Using multi-factor authentication is becoming more and more popular as it is one of the more straightforward ways to prevent security breaches. Many different platforms are even requiring it to ensure the safety and security of your devices that go beyond strong passwords.
4. ASSESSING VULNERABILITIES OF SMART HOMES AND IOT
Smart homes are becoming increasingly popular, but your personal data is left vulnerable, whether you’re only using a single virtual technology assistant or a full suite. With 75% of IoT attacks coming from infected routers, your home must be equipped with encrypted networks and antivirus software so that your sensitive data can stay safe and secure.
Computer Troubleshooters will help keep your devices and data protected against hackers and data breaches. Contact your local technology experts today if you have concerns about your internet safety or want to learn more about securing your devices.