According to Kaspersky, the practice of protecting networks, servers, electronic systems, mobile devices, computers, and data from hostile intrusions is known as cybersecurity. With the rising number of digital products, devices that require internet connectivity, and increasing sophistication of cyber attack techniques the risk of cyberattacks has grown astronomically. In simple terms, the more devices you have online, the higher the possibility for hackers to access your information.
Here is a breakdown of some of the best online practices that you can use to protect yourself from the risk of cyberattacks, such as when you try to type your verde casino login or simply surf on the web. The good thing about these practices is that you don’t have to be a tech guru before you can be able to follow them:
- Update your browsers;
- Be creative with your passwords;
- Only visit credible websites;
- Disable cookies;
- Utilize VPNs & Adblockers.
Let’s take a close look at all of the following mentioned aspects!
Update your browsers
While this may seem too basic to provide any sort of protection against cyberattacks, updating one’s browser can be an effective way of reducing this problem. Most app software updates come with the latest security measures that help identify threats and block unnecessary pop-ups. Disregarding any update may expose the app on one’s device to the possibility of being compromised and, thus, the potential of a security breach. The best practice would be periodic checks for any available updates and making the required updates whenever the need arises.
Be Creative With Your Passwords
Passwords play a dual role in internet security. While they can be one of the most secure ways to protect your information, they can also be the biggest weak points to data security. One problem with setting passwords is that most people tend to go with the cliché by setting easy passwords like “1234”, “date of birth,” or “their names”. All these forms of passwords make it easy for identity theft to happen, as they can be guessed with a little information about the account holder. A strong password would typically be a mixture of numbers, letters, and symbols. There’s also the possibility of utilizing password software managers which though could be an extra cost but have proven to be an efficient means to safeguard one’s details.
Only Visit Credible Websites
Have you ever visited a website, and it looks a bit off? This may be your first cue that the site may contain some malicious contents, which could make you a victim of cybercrime. One proven way in which you can protect yourself from cyberattacks is by visiting only credible websites. You should only input your personal details on sites that have proven over time to protect users’ privacy. This way, you significantly reduce the possibility that your details would be compromised online.
Disable Cookies
Cookies are small text that a web server uses in identifying each unique user. It achieves this by storing information of each user, and then using that information to tailor the needs of an internet user. While cookies themselves are not harmful, they can be hijacked by hackers and used to obtain important information from your devices. In 2014, Yahoo! reported that the data breach on its platform led to roughly 3 registered email addresses being exposed to risk following manufactured web cookies used to falsify credentials.
Both breaches are considered the largest discovered in the history of the Internet. Names, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords, encrypted or unencrypted security questions, and other specific information were obtained. Furthermore, according to Yahoo!, the late 2014 breach likely involved the use of fake browser cookies to mask login information, giving hackers access to any account without a password.
| Types of Cyber Attacks | Examples |
| Malware attacks | Using viruses, worms, and adware to gather information |
| Phishing | Claiming to be someone else |
| Password | Hacking passwords to gain access |
| Man-in-the-middle attack | Eavesdropping on a conversation online to gain information |
| Spamming | Sending unsolicited mails |
Here’s a tablet of different types of cybercrimes and their explanations. One should be well-informed about these terms in order to be able to suspect not trustworthy online activity.
Utilize VPNs & Adblockers
VPNs are used to hide the user’s identity while they surf the internet. When you click on a link or open an app, it obtains information about that user, and this information is then stored. Most times, the information is used to define the kind of ads a user is shown on the internet. Hackers sometimes use such ads to hide malicious viruses, which users are exposed to when they click the link. This is where an ad blocker comes in. This is software designed to make websites cleaner and also protect one’s privacy. To add an extra layer of safety, using a VPN connection enables you to secure the connection between your device and a server, thus guaranteeing your online safety.
We carry out a lot of exchanges on the internet, and this has led to a new type of problem cyberattacks. In this article, we looked at some of how you can reduce the kind of risks that you face while using the internet. Having a complex password is one safeguard in protecting oneself from experiencing cyberattacks. Lastly, some of the types of cyberattacks and the kind of form that they typically come in were presented as well.
