Top 10 Cyber Security Tips for Individuals

We hope that these ten personal cyber security tips will assist our readers in becoming more cyber savvy. These security tips were created based on our experience handling millions of security incidents for companies and professionals around the world.

 Top 10 Cyber Security Tips for Individuals

1. Keep the Software Up to Date

Ransomware attacks were a significant attack vector for both companies and customers in 2017, as shown by the statistics above. Patching obsolete software, both operating systems and applications, is one of the most significant cyber security tips for preventing ransomware. This aids in the elimination of crucial vulnerabilities that hackers exploit to gain access to your computers. Here are some pointers to help you get started:

• Set your device to receive automatic system updates.
• Make sure your desktop web browser downloads and instals security patches automatically.
• Keep your web browser’s plugins, such as Flash and Java, up to date.
• Check out our blog for best practises in patch management!

You can also visit nextdoorsec.com for more cyber security tips and guides.

2. Install anti-virus software and a firewall

To combat malicious attacks, anti-virus (AV) security software has become the most widely used solution. Malware and other malicious viruses are prevented from accessing your computer and damaging your data by antivirus software. Use just one anti-virus tool on your computer, and make sure it’s from a reputable vendor.

When it comes to protecting your data from malicious attacks, using a firewall is important. A firewall protects your computer by filtering out hackers, malware, and other malicious activity that occurs over the Internet and deciding what traffic is allowed to enter. Windows Firewall and Mac Firewall are the firewalls that come with Windows and Mac OS X, respectively. To protect your network from attacks, your router should include a firewall.

3. Create strong passwords and use a password manager

Strong passwords are important for online protection, as you’ve probably heard. Passwords are crucial in keeping hackers out of your information! According to the latest password policy framework published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2017, you should think about:

Getting rid of the wacky, convoluted combination of upper case letters, symbols, and numbers. Instead, choose something more user-friendly that is at least eight characters long and no longer than 64 characters.

4. Authentication with two-factor or multi-factor

Two-factor authentication, also known as multi-factor authentication, is a service that adds additional layers of protection to the traditional password-based form of online identification. You must usually enter a username and password without two-factor authentication. However, if you use two-factor authentication, you will be asked to enter an additional authentication mechanism such as a Personal Identification Code, another password, or even your fingerprint. After entering your username and password, you’ll be asked to enter more than two additional authentication methods for multi-factor authentication.

5. Become aware of phishing scams

This year’s phishing scams are nastier than ever, according to a recent blog post. In a phishing scheme, the attacker impersonates someone or something that the sender is not in order to trick the recipient into disclosing passwords, clicking a malicious connection, or opening an attachment that infects the user’s device with malware, trojans, or zero-day vulnerability exploits. This sometimes results in a ransomware attack. In reality, phishing attempts are the source of 90% of ransomware attacks.

6. Take Care of Your Sensitive Data

Personal Identifiable Information (PII) is any information that can be used to identify or locate an individual by a cybercriminal. Name, address, phone numbers, date of birth, Social Security Number, IP address, location details, or any other physical or digital identification data are examples of PII. Companies that adopt the PCI DSS standards should protect your credit card details.

You should be very careful about the details you share online in the modern “always-on” world of social media. On social media, you can just share the bare minimum of information about yourself. Examine your privacy settings on all of your social media accounts, particularly Facebook. Adding your home address, birthdate, or any other personally identifiable information (PII) increases your risk of a security breach significantly. Hackers take advantage of this knowledge!

7. Make Safe Use of Your Mobile Devices

Your mobile computer is now a priority for more than 1.5 million new cases of mobile malware, according to McAfee Labs. Here are some short security tips for mobile devices:

8. Make regular backups of your data

Regularly backing up your data is an often-overlooked aspect of personal online security. The 3-2-1 backup rule is followed by the top IT and security executives. In essence, you’ll keep three copies of your data on two separate forms of media (local and external hard drives), as well as one copy off-site (cloud storage).

If you’ve been infected with ransomware or malware, the only way to get your data back is to wipe your systems and recover from a recent backup.

9. Avoid using public Wi-Fi.

Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when using public Wi-Fi (VPN). The traffic between your computer and the VPN server is encrypted when you use a VPN. This makes gaining access to your data on your computer even more difficult for a cybercriminal. When security is a concern, use your mobile network if you don’t have a VPN.

10. Keep an eye on your online accounts and credit reports for any changes.

Because of the recent Equifax data breach, it’s more important than ever for consumers to protect their online accounts and keep an eye on their credit reports. Right now, the most efficient way to secure your personal credit details from cyber criminals is to place a credit freeze on your account. It essentially allows you to lock your credit and use a PIN that only you can remember. When you need to apply for credit, you can use this PIN.