In today’s internet-obsessed age, everybody’s first instinct when they go anywhere is to ask for a WIFI password.
It’s easy to connect your devices to the internet in cafes, bookshops, restaurants, airports, and hotels.
While this is meant for increased customer convenience and brand image, easy access to WiFi makes cybersecurity harder.
It also means that hackers in the area could easily obtain the information on your device.
Thus, public places with Wi-Fi make your data more vulnerable to hackers and viruses.
However, avoiding these places doesn’t ensure data protection.
Hackers can manipulate your information even when you’re home!
But don’t worry.
Data protection is easier than you think.
Here are 7 ways you can protect yourself from hackers and viruses
7. Download Anti-Virus Software
Malware and computer viruses are known to attack users in unsuspecting ways.
Therefore, anti-virus software lays the foundation for basic data protection for your devices.
Here’s a list of top-rated anti-virus programs.
- McAfee
- Norton
- Kaspersky
- Bitdefender
- Webroot
- Vipre
- Avast
These programs protect your information against unauthorized software threatening your operating systems.
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Viruses show themselves in ways like slowing down devices or deleting important files.
However, they also reveal themselves in less obvious ways.
Running an efficient anti-virus program reduces the risk of malware.
Moreover, it frequently scans your system for spyware and any suspicious content.
6. Avoid Simple Passwords
Easy passwords act as instant gateways to malware and hackers.
To avoid this, users create complex passwords.
This is the easiest way to protect data and information.
Harder passwords mean restricted attacks by viruses and hackers.
Therefore, longer, complex passwords with several characters lead to basic data safety.
The list below sums up the creation of complex passwords in 8 different ways.
- Use a minimum of 10 characters
- Different accounts should have unique passwords
- Make your password long
- Avoid common words
- Don’t use simple keyboard paths
- Apply a mix of characters
- Avoid simple identifiable information
5. Update your OS, apps, and browser
The updates you swipe away and ignore will keep your data safer.
Always upgrade your devices and operating system with new updates.
However, before updating your devices, review security browser security settings.
Additionally, you can use private web browsers such as Tor, Epic, and DuckDuckGo to increase your online privacy.
4. Close Anything you Don’t Need
Are you the kind of person who has hundreds of tabs open at a time or are you sane?
If you’re the former, you’re in trouble.
Not closing pages, tabs, and apps you’re not using increases the chances of hacker and malware attacks.
This is because some apps and pages are designed to reveal your location or other personal details.
However, their complex settings make it hard to figure this out instantly.
Therefore, make sure you don’t keep your wireless connection, geo-tracking, and GPS on at all times.
3. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
The two-factor authentication feature allows you extra protection after the creation of a strong password.
Now, many applications and websites allow users to protect their data and information with a two-step security method.
This feature works because it requires additional information such as codes, or numbers sent to email addresses or phone numbers.
Also, the two-actor authentication system requires a password along with the process.
Popular applications like Amazon, WhatsApp, Apple, Dashlane, Facebook, Dropbox, and Instagram introduced this feature recently.
2. Secure Your Wireless Networks Wherever You Go
Whether you’re at home or the office, your wireless connections must be secured and protected.
Passwords and encryptions secure wireless connections at home and in public.
As a result, hackers, spyware, and unauthorized users are denied access to your network.
So here are simple ways to protect your wireless network.
- Update default passwords
- Encrypt network data
- Download a firewall
- Avoid frequent and random file sharing
- Limit access
- Secure your Service Set Identifier (SSID)
- Increased usage of a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
- Update your access point software
1. Allow Touch ID If You Use Apple Devices
Apple users have access to a large range of security features to protect data and encourage cybersecurity.
Similarly, iPhones contain the Touch ID security measure which uses a fingerprint security method.
According to Apple’s official website, touch ID Is enabled in these simple steps:
Go to Settings, and choose Touch ID and Passcode in order to manage the settings:
- Toggle Touch ID on/ off for any of these – Passcode, Apple Pay, or iTunes & App Store
Now you know how to protect your data from hackers.