Stay Safe Online by Practicing Personal Cybersecurity
In our rapidly changing digital world, it’s more important than ever to take personal cybersecurity measures.
Threats come in a lot of different forms — ransomware, phishing, malware, identity scams, and more — but the good news is that the same safety tips can help protect you from all of them.
Follow these top strategies to stay safe from digital threats!
Protect yourself against cybersecurity attacks
Enable automatic security updates
We know that cybersecurity threats are always evolving — but thankfully, so are software companies! Updating your software routinely makes sure you 1) have all the most recent features and 2) that you can also take immediate advantage of bug fixes that improve your digital safety.
What’s more? It’s just plain easier! Automatic updates mean one less thing for you to worry about.
Set strong passwords
Creating passwords can be difficult. Most people will create a password that is easy to remember by using personal information somewhere in their password: names, important dates, pets, phone numbers, etc. When you’re doing this, consider incorporating a mixture of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to create more security.
You should also have a different password for every account you use in order to protect your accounts if one happens to get hacked.
Want to make password security easier? Consider using a password manager. These tools create complex, unique passwords for you and then store them in an encrypted state — and you only have to remember one “master” password to access your accounts!
Avoid clicking on unknown links
Always check a domain’s legitimacy before clicking on a link. You can hover over a text link to see the full URL — if it starts with “https” or is an address you recognize, you’re good to go! If it contains many symbols, seems unusually long, or otherwise looks “off”, be cautious.
Install applications from an official, known source
Only download applications from Google Play™ or the App Store® — avoid installing anything from a third-party website you don’t recognize. Apps that pop up on your screen or come from an unverified source are more likely to contain malware.
Be conscious when using public WiFi
Public WiFi at coffee shops, airports, and other hangouts is convenient — but it can also be dangerous. It’s the perfect environment for hackers to steal your sensitive information. Don’t worry about using it to watch a few videos or surf the net, but avoid entering sensitive login credentials (especially to your bank or credit card company).
While we’re on the internet topic: Make sure your home Wi-Fi is secured by a strong password. By doing so you can prevent thieves and hackers stealing your personal information from your home computer or tablet.
Detect if an attack does take place
Good personal cybersecurity isn’t just about preventing attacks — it’s also about detecting them early to limit their damage. Here are a few things to watch for:
- Mysterious emails
- Suspicious pop-ups
- Unusual password activity
It’s a good idea to get in touch with a cybersecurity professional or install reputable monitoring software if you have any concerns that you’ve been the victim of an attack.
Lindow Insurance is here for you
New risks arise every day in our digital world — our hometown agents experience it firsthand, too. While it’s important to be proactive to stay as safe as possible, it’s also important to be prepared just in case. Cybersecurity insurance can protect you and your family from financial loss if your data does get compromised.
As always, if you have questions about your insurance coverage, we’re here to help. Let us know what we can do!
