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Since the advent of the pandemic, it’s been clear that digital security – and cyber threats –is permeating into more and more areas of our lives. In addition, the combination of remote working and “bring your own device” working culture has exposed weaknesses in digital security ecosystems that had previously been far less severe. This means that personal digital security matters whether you’re looking to protect your identity and your digital assets or a business owner looking to protect your firm’s digital infrastructure. Here’s what you can do to boost those protective measures.
Understanding Threats
The threat landscape online is constantly shifting as cybercriminal gangs find new ways to steal information and hack servers. Unfortunately, this means that law enforcement and consumers are often one step behind and more vulnerable to novel attacks that they’re unaware of how to spot. It’s in this sense that a little education can go a long way – ensuring that you’re up to date on the threats posed by cybercriminals. You can learn about the latest threat developments from international cybercrime monitoring websites or blogs specializing in reporting cyber threats.
Your Identity
Only you can be responsible for your own digital identity. Comprised of the various social media pages and website memberships you’re a part of your identity is essentially contained and protected by a set of passwords, usernames, and email addresses. The tip here is simple: make sure these passwords are complex and unguessable. Use a password manager to save and watch over these passwords so that the various types of identity theft cybercriminals use will be seriously hampered. Personal password security is one of the most important aspects of your digital health and protection, so it’s well worth going through your profiles and changing your passwords to make your security more robust.
Reputable Sites
Some websites are deemed “reputable” by Google’s algorithm, and some are known to be nefarious, either as part of the cybercriminal world or hosting some form of scam. It may sound like an obvious piece of advice but avoiding websites that could host a bug is paramount for your digital security. It only takes one malicious link or downloads to potentially crash your computer, infect your other devices, and potentially harvest useful personal information that criminals can sell on through the dark web. So, check your URLs and watch out for copycat websites that pretend to be reputable sites.
Email Security
Email spam isn’t new, but what has changed over the past five years is the technology criminals use to draw more and more valuable data from your device, again if you click on a malicious link. Spam filters on most major inbox providers are fairly accurate in this regard, skimming off the dangerous messages. But some do slip through the net, so it’s often wise to simply delete an email from an individual you do not recognize. And if an emailed offer seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
There you have it: four ways to enhance your personal digital security in a world of changing cyber threats.
