5 Ways to Avoid Being Hacked
Mar 17, 2017
Though you might think you’re being savvy and safe online, hackers are out there, and they’re attempting to get into your social media every day. In fact, it’s likely that hacking someone is much easier than you might think. Losing personal and important data can be detrimental to a business, whether you’re a small firm or a global phenomenon. Being aware of the possible dangers of hackers and how to prevent them is the ultimate way to stay safe on the web.
Use a secure Wi-Fi
Did you know Wi-Fi makes it extremely easy for hackers to access your computer, phone and accounts? If you offer free Wi-Fi to your clients, take the time to ensure it’s on a separate network to the office. It’s also vital that your Wi-Fi is password protected. Just like personal Wi-Fi, public Wi-Fi networks that you may find in pubs and at airports should also be used with caution. Ensuring you have updated the security software on your PC and that it is activated can help. It’s also advisable that you don’t access websites with sensitive information like your bank account whilst connected to these networks.
Read your emails
Phishing emails are extremely popular and they are looking more and more legit. Some emails will be obvious, especially if someone is offering you millions of pounds, but they just happen to need your bank details. Those kind of spam emails are easy to avoid, though some are more difficult to identify. We advise taking the time to read your emails and never click on any links until you’re 100% sure about where the link will take you. Check the email of the sender, as this is often a huge giveaway as to whether the email is real or fake. Trust your gut, too- if something doesn’t feel right, just delete it and move on.
Downloads
If you’re prone to downloading add-ons to your internet browser every now and again, just make sure it’s coming from a site that you know. The same goes for PDF’s, music and even wallpapers. This is a quick and easy way for hackers to get into your PC and infiltrate your data. In a business it’s important to acknowledge a download policy with your staff to ensure they aren’t downloading from questionable sites too. Many people are more likely to take chances on downloads if the equipment isn’t theirs. Communicate with your staff or even invest in a networking software that doesn’t allow them to make these kind of downloads to their PC’s.
Passwords
It’s good practice to get into the habit of changing all passwords regularly, especially if you’re a business and see people passing through your doors often. It’s also important to not reuse the same passwords time and time again, or use the same passwords for different services. There are many password managing subscriptions online that can help to keep your passwords in one place and safely protected. Other services that are available can offer two-factor authentication, which allows you to add two password protection to sites like Facebook, Twitter and Gmail rather than the standard one password authentication.
Some of the most common passwords of 2016 were ‘password’ and ‘123456’. If your password consists of either, it’s seriously time to give it a change!
Use your Initiative
It’s important to not worry too much over hacking fears. It can happen (and don’t we know it), but as long as the basic security precautions are taken, hackers should have trouble getting into your accounts. The great thing is that if you are hacked, the Internet has allowed us to contact the people we need in order to get things back and running as soon as is physically possible, with little damage made to your business and reputation.
Here at The Creation Lab, we understand the need for security amongst all of our client’s website data, which is why we take the precautions to ensure this is the case. If you’re looking for a safe and secure website for your business, we’d be more than happy to help. For more information, you can get in touch with a member of the team by visiting our contact page or by picking up the phone and calling us on 0800 644 7070.
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