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1.keep Your Software Up-To-Date.: Business News Daily

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21 views3 pages

1.keep Your Software Up-To-Date.: Business News Daily

Uploaded by

angelalouiserey
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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1.Keep your software up-to-date.

Viruses are constantly being developed to take advantage of software security flaws.
Updates and security patches are essential to keeping your computers and other devices
safe. Allow regular system updates, as well as updates from trusted software programs and
apps. If a computer, smartphone, or specific program is so old it’s no longer supported by
the company that made it, replace it with something more up to date.Business News
Daily recommends updating your device when you are no longer able to get the latest
version of the operating system and security capabilities become out of date—usually by
the time the device is 5-8 years old.

2. Use antivirus software.

Most computers come with some form of antivirus software already preinstalled (Windows
and Apple’s antivirus protection is built into the operating system). As we mentioned above,
it’s important to keep any security software and operating systems up to date. However, for
business computers that might be bigger targets for hackers, you may wish to have a free
or paid back-up antivirus system—as Security.org argues in their article on antivirus
software for Windows-based PCs, “In digital security, redundancy is a good thing.”

3. Backup your data.

While it’s a good idea to backup your data in case your computer or device is lost, stolen,
or damaged, there are two main cybersecurity-related reasons why need to back up your
data:

1. If you get a virus or other malware that makes your computer inoperable, you will
have all your important files back in no time. If your antivirus software isn’t able to
get your computer up and running again and you have to erase the hard drive and
start anew, you can transfer backed up files, including important financial records,
and not miss a beat.
2. If you are the victim of a ransomware scheme, you don’t have to take the bait.
Ransomware is a kind of malware that cuts you off from your data—supposedly
until you pay a ransom. If your computer is taken over, and your files aren’t backed
up, you will have to pay to regain access. However, even if you do, there’s a good
chance—up to 80%—that you won’t get your files back. Additionally, they could be
corrupted, or your computer could be inoperable due to the malware that was
installed on it. Having a backup means you won’t have to even play ball with these
criminals.

4. Use strong passwords and password managers.

A strong password is one that is not only long, but also contains upper and lowercase
letters, numbers, and/or symbols. If a password is easy to guess, possibly based on your
personal information or interests, it isn’t secure enough to protect your business accounts.

To add another layer of security, try using a password manager. These can not only help
you remember your passwords, but they can also generate virtually unguessable
passwords, and store them for you, so you never have to remember them yourself.
Password managers are secure, too—they use multi-factor or two-step authentication to
ensure that only you are able to access accounts. Consider these password managers
recommended by PC Magazine.

5. Watch out for phishing emails.

Linkedin has named phishing the “biggest threat to modern businesses in 2022”—and that
says a lot. Through phishing emails, ransomware groups and other cyber criminals attempt
to extort you for money, trick you into sending money, or trick you into giving away your
personal information or credentials which can allow them to access accounts and set up
new accounts in your name (identity theft).
How do you know when an email is a phishing scam?

 Lookout for misspellings, typos, and unprofessional graphics.


 Beware of urgent claims (something will happen, for instance an account will be
frozen or compromised, if you don’t act quickly).
 Hover over any links to see if they direct you to a legitimate site.
 Do not download anything from an email.
 If you are asked to log in to an account, type the actual company web address in
your browser, rather than clicking through from a link.
 Verify requests directly with the associated business, organization, or individual.
 6. Enable multi-factor authentication.

As we discussed earlier, multi-factor or two-factor authentication (MFA/2FA)
provides an added layer of security over passwords alone. They require an
additional verification—often through another verified device—in order to allow you
to log in to an account. For instance, to log in to a Google Account, you may be
asked to confirm the login attempt through an affiliated smartphone. How effective
is multi-factor authentication? It can prevent 80-90% of cyber-attacks. Sometimes
enabling MFA is required, but sometimes it is still an option. If you are given the
option, do it.

7. Avoid public Wi-Fi.

When accessing personal information checking your bank account information on


the go, it’s important to avoid public Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi is much safer than it used to
be, before the days of secure websites (the ones that begin with “https”). But there
are still some security risks associated with public Wi-Fi, so using it (instead of your
phone’s data plan, for instance), can leave you susceptible to malware. If you must
access personal information through a laptop or cellphone on public Wi-Fi, it’s a
good idea to use a VPN, or Virtual Public Network. This allows you to create your
own secure connection to another network. For more about VPNs, read How-to
Geek’s guide, “What Is a VPN, and Why Would I Need One?”

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