7 Tips To Protect Yourself Against Cybercrime
Here are seven tips for guarding against cybercrime – and, hopefully, reducing your cyberanxiety.
- Adopt smart practices regarding passwords. Rely on complex passwords with at least eight characters – incorporating uppercase letters, lowercase letters and symbols – rather than easy-to-crack passwords like “password123.” Also, store your passwords in secure places, such as a password manager app; don’t keep them on sticky notes stuck to your computer or desk.
- Install and update antivirus software. Don’t ignore alerts that direct you to update the software; ensuring your software is the latest version available could thwart a cyberattack.
- Enable two-factor authentication. With this tool, you’re required to provide two pieces of identifying information, such as a combination of a password and a fingerprint, to access an app or online account.
- Update the operating systems on your electronic devices. These updates frequently include security improvements or fixes.
- Trust your instincts. “If it looks dangerous or too good to be true, it probably is,” Neal O’Farrell, executive director of the Identity Theft Council, said.
- Don’t click on a link in an email from a sender you don’t recognize. That link could be a scam designed to trick you into providing personal data.
- Report internet scams or viruses. “This helps financial institutions understand what threats exist,” O’Farrell said, “and allows them to steer you away from any possible danger.”
Source: https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/cybercrime-fear-safety-tips/
Here are seven tips for guarding against cybercrime – and, hopefully, reducing your cyberanxiety.
- Adopt smart practices regarding passwords. Rely on complex passwords with at least eight characters – incorporating uppercase letters, lowercase letters and symbols – rather than easy-to-crack passwords like “password123.” Also, store your passwords in secure places, such as a password manager app; don’t keep them on sticky notes stuck to your computer or desk.
- Install and update antivirus software. Don’t ignore alerts that direct you to update the software; ensuring your software is the latest version available could thwart a cyberattack.
- Enable two-factor authentication. With this tool, you’re required to provide two pieces of identifying information, such as a combination of a password and a fingerprint, to access an app or online account.
- Update the operating systems on your electronic devices. These updates frequently include security improvements or fixes.
- Trust your instincts. “If it looks dangerous or too good to be true, it probably is,” Neal O’Farrell, executive director of the Identity Theft Council, said.
- Don’t click on a link in an email from a sender you don’t recognize. That link could be a scam designed to trick you into providing personal data.
- Report internet scams or viruses. “This helps financial institutions understand what threats exist,” O’Farrell said, “and allows them to steer you away from any possible danger.”
Source: https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/cybercrime-fear-safety-tips/