Cyber threats are increasing as the years go on. Here are 10 cybersecurity resolutions you can accomplish in 2021 to protect your hard-earned business.
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Make hard to crack passwords.
Making passwords a long phrase is one step to making better passwords. The extra length makes it much more difficult to crack, while the phrase will keep it memorable. This is just one step towards better password creation.
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Update. Update. Update.
Make sure when updates are available you take advantage of them and apply them to your systems or apps. Updates usually involve patches of vulnerabilities that help to ensure you don't have any easy, known targets for hackers.
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Be cautious on public Wi-Fi.
Motivated hackers can spoof legitimate public Wi-Fi networks. Spoofing allows hackers to see all data and traffic going through the illegitimate network. While not connecting to public Wi-Fi in the first place is your safest option, if you do, make sure to use a VPN.
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Use 2FA whenever possible.
Adding an extra layer to your password complexity certainly doesn't hurt! They can include: one-time codes in a text message, biometric data, and expiring codes provided by secure applications on a mobile device, such as Google Authenticator or Authy.
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Use Antivirus Software.
Next-Generation Antivirus software is a must for today's cybersecurity stack. It's important to note, however, that having Antivirus won't secure you as much as a layered security defense strategy. Cyber attacks vary, so it's important to consider the different attack targets and how you can best protect them.
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Stay private.
The more a hacker knows about you, the easier it is for them to get into your account. Keep social media accounts private and only accept people you know. Especially those questionnaires on social media profiles; most of those questions are security questions for online accounts. Child identity theft is on the rise, so it's important to protect their PII on your accounts, too.
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Educate & Share.
We, as users in a network, are the weakest link in any security structure. To combat this, it's essential that we share our knowledge. Awareness training programs have become a must-have for many organizations in order to thwart hackers attempts proactively. This is important for both business cases and "home" cases. Unfortunately, the older adult population is heavily targeted, it's important to share best practices with our friends, neighbors, and loved ones to help against cyber threats.
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Only purchase from reputable sites.
If you're online shopping and haven't ever heard of a website it's best not to buy from it, but if you do, ensure that it uses a secure payment system.
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Click cautiously.
Even if you are expecting an email with an attachment or a link, the best practice is to take these precautions before clicking. Phishing, spear phishing, and CEO fraud are favorite tactics that take advantage of users.
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Cell phones aren't immune.
Mobile phones are just as hackable as computers. Make sure your device, as well as apps, are up-to-date, use a VPN, avoid public Wi-Fi, and make sure a BYOD security policy is in place at your organization. Many users continue to make it easy for attackers by using old operating systems. In particular, on Android, only 20 percent of devices are running the newest major version.
What are your top cybersecurity resolutions for 2021? We'd love to know. Chat us with your answer!
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