According to Cyber Security Ventures, a business falls victim to a ransomware attack every 14 seconds. If you don’t want to form part of those statistics, it’s necessary to improve your security measures at home and the office.
In this post, we’ll go through ways to protect you against ransomware attacks and cybercrime in general.
First Line of Defence – Assume That You’ll be Hacked
A lot of us believe that we’re not good targets for hackers. After all, there are much bigger and juicier targets out there. That’s an assumption that could cost you dearly. Let’s put the risks into perspective for you by drawing on some statistics:
- Ransomware attacks are increasing at a rate of about 350% annually: It’s hardly surprising because this is one of the easiest ways for hackers to make money. All they need to do is embed ransomware into a link or an email attachment. The program then does the rest of the work.
- App stores catch 24,000 apps containing malware daily: That doesn’t mean that they block all apps, though, and indicates why you should never download apps from unknown sources.
- 18 individuals per second fall victims to some form of cybercrime: That’s in the region of 1.5 million attacks a day. It doesn’t make you feel very secure, does it?
So clearly, it’s wise to assume that someone is out there to get you. You should never let down your guard. Let’s go over some steps that you should take.
Also, read: How Do You Train Employees For Cyber Security?
Start with an Excellent Anti-Virus Program
The emphasis here is on the start section. A good anti-virus is the foundation for your protection online, but it should not be the only measure that you take. It’s also only effective if you update it regularly, preferably every day.
Do Better with Your Passwords
We all know that using a simple password like our birthday or spouse’s name is a bad idea. But we do want passwords that are simple to remember, so we search further afield. Maybe we choose the name of our childhood friend, or the first street we lived on, and so on.
That’s not good enough. Your password should avoid any information that can easily be found out or that people know about you. You never know who’s going to try and hack you.
A strong password:
- Is at least 16 characters long.
- Contains a random mix of letters, numbers, special characters, and upper and lower cases.
- Is changed at least once a month, in case someone has figured out what it is.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Yes, it’s a hassle to have to enter a special code every time you log in, but it’s also one of the tips that are going to help you remain safer. At the very least, you’ll know if someone is trying to access one of your accounts because you’ll receive a message with the code.
Be Careful What You Download
There are plenty of enticing programs out there that seem like the best thing since sliced bread. One simple rule applies – if you don’t know the site or who the site owner is, don’t download anything. If you want to download apps, stick to the app stores and carefully vet the app before downloading it.
The same applies to email attachments. If you don’t know the sender, don’t download it.
Don’t Click on Links in Emails
Phishing emails are harder to spot than you might think. Don’t assume that you’ll recognize one when you see it; you probably won’t. If you get an email that you think is legit, go through to the company’s website without using the link in the mail. In other words, you go and find the site yourself before logging in.
That way, if it is a phishing email, you aren’t giving them your username and password to that particular site.
Back Up All Your Data Regularly
That way, if you fall victim to a ransomware attack or your data is deleted in some other form of malicious attack, you don’t lose it forever. It’s not the perfect solution, but it can help to minimize the damage done. That said, store your backups offline.
Put a Recovery Plan in Place
If you’re running a business, it’s worthwhile looking into security awareness training or at least having a security consultant come in. The consultant will help to check for holes in your defenses and can help you come up with a recovery plan if the system is breached.
Final Notes
Your best defense against cyber criminals is to make things as hard as possible for them. That means using any security measures at your disposal and also being vigilant at all times.
Nick Galov, Hosting Expert and Content Manager. Nick is on a mission to improve the world of web hosting for some time now. When he got the chance to contribute to the betterment of all kinds of software, he simply couldn’t say no. When not geeking it out, he enjoys lager and football.
