HANDY SAFETY TIPS TO SECURE YOUR COMPUTER

With everyone using computers on a daily basis they are becoming more and more vulnerable to cybercriminals and hackers. It can potentially affect all types of computers whether your running Windows, Mac OS or Linux.

The problem is that most people either don’t have the time or are just not interested in making their computers secure.

We're turning our thoughts to the ever present threat posed by cybercriminals who are constantly knocking on our business doors looking for a way in. Here are 6 handy tips that will help keep your computers safe from such threats.

1. Watch Out For Phishing SPAM eMail.

We see more and more phising emails into our inboxes all the time, especially coming from someone posing as a financial institutions wanting you to change your banking details and to be processed ASAP. Always put a quick phone call in to double check such requests - that call could be the vital step that stops you sending important information to a hacker and putting you, your company and job at risk.

2. Set Up Additional Layers Of Security

It’s advisable to always use a password management tools rather than using the same one or two passwords you can remember across all the different logins you routinely use. Sites and software that use Two Factor Authentication /2FA will significantly reduce a hacker's capability to access your account or compromise your devices.

3. Upgrade Your Passwords

A lot of websites ask for passwords with a minimum of 8 characters but if you can add just 2 more, it exponentially increases the length of time it takes to hack them by a few years. A combination of lower case, upper case, numbers and special characters are a must. Don't just stick to text characters and simple words. If you can remember your password, it's probably not complex enough. Why not go one step further and use a password manager to manage passwords for you?

4. Invest In Comprehensive Security Solutions

These days, antivirus alone simply doesn't offer enough protection for a business. There are plenty of other threats that need mitigating including malware, ransomware and phishing attacks to name just a few. Make sure you take time to research and understand the best security solution for your business or personal computers and keep it constantly up to date with the latest updates, definitions and patches. Failing to patch and updating to the latest definitions is asking for trouble.

5. Beware Of Public WiFi Hotspots

Unsecured, free public WiFi Networks pose several security risks to users. Public WiFi networks are easy targets for malware distribution, malicious hotspots and man-in-the-middle attacks. They allow the movement of data without any form of encryption or security protection which means anyone can intercept and steal your data.

6. Avoid Deals That Are Too Good to Be True

Be suspicious of people or situations where there is a large prize, benefit or other attractive incentive on offer without the need for you to do much, if anything in return. More often than not, such offers are not what they seem and you could end up losing out – BIG TIME! As the old saying goes "There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

A great way to give yourself an overall umbrella of protection is to use Kaspersky products. Its Internet security and anti-virus software protects you from malware, spyware, and viruses, and it comes with parental controls as well. Doing some of the legwork on your own certainly helps keep you safe, but use Kaspersky if you want to make sure all your bases are covered.