Let’s face it, protecting your privacy from hackers and spies is no easy task. Smart cybercriminals would go to extremes to hurt individuals and companies financially. Cybersecurity has become a serious issue these days as criminal minds have been inventing new ways to steal sensitive information that will lead them to personal financial gains. With an increased success rate of cybercriminal activities for hackers and scammers, many people are finding hacking a lucrative career path and a steppingstone towards faster growth and success.
My Personal Take on Online Security and Protecting Your Privacy
The internet, which is a blessing these days, can also be a dangerous place to share your personal and business information. Privacy has more or less become a rare commodity these days, and companies can no longer claim to have 100% cybersecurity or secured systems and networks. The malicious apps and malware software, dangerous viruses, and phishing scams are growing in number, and companies have little or no clue what to do to secure their networks. If we specifically talk about data breaches and identity theft, they are becoming commonplace, creating real risks to your privacy.
What Cybercriminals Look For?
Hackers, scammers, and spies want valuable data. This includes bank details, bookkeeping records, credit card numbers, email addresses, home addresses, vendor details, stakeholders’ details, birth dates, past financial records, and more. They will exploit any opportunity at hand and make individuals and companies pay for their lack of cyber or online security. The main reason why cybercriminals can easily break into your accounts is due to outdated operating systems, networks, or browsers.
This is why protecting your privacy against cybercriminals is absolutely mandatory for every individual and company regardless of the size, scale, and location. Two of the most common reasons why cybercriminals desire to steal data is 1) blackmailing where personal data is stolen for personal interests and 2) extortion. Where an individuals or company’s data is held for ransom.
Here’re the tips for protecting your privacy from hackers and spies, which means online security needs to be duly tracked, updated, and embraced to prevent cybercriminal activities.
Minimize Your Digital Presence
Sharing too much data on social media and the internet can be dangerous for you. According to experts, it can pose potential threats to not only individuals but also for the companies. Sharing personal information and tweeting too much about your day-round activities can turn into a disaster. Recently, a story about a young girl who had been followed by some crazy pedophile tweeted about being home alone and being attacked, took the internet and social media by storm. This made headlines across the world, making people aware of the dark side of the internet. So, this fun-loving and socially interactive activity can be dangerous, which needs to be minimized and stopped right away for one’s safety and the sake of online security. To cut a long story short, just restrict your online presence and do not give any personal information to anyone before verifying their legitimacy and credentials.
Keep Your Systems and Networks Updated
Giving easy grounds to cybercriminals means letting go of your personal and business information to online criminals without showing any resistance. There is no denying the fact that outdated systems and networks are vulnerable to cyber threats. One thing is clear; they can’t prevent cybercriminals from entering your servers due to obsolete software and firewalls. So, you need to keep online security in-check and keep all system software updated, encrypt your wireless network, and have firewall software that will oppose spyware and phishing attacks. Most importantly, malicious viruses attacking your servers.
Implement Strict Password Policies
By establishing code and implementing strict password policies, you can expect to elevate your online security. In today’s world, where protecting your privacy has become an extremely challenging task, a strictness in implementing password policies can help prevent data leakages and keep cyber criminals away from breaking into your system and networks.
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