6 ways you can protect your electronic devices from cyber-attacks
Electronic devices are important tools we use in our daily lives. We use our smartphones to connect with family and friends, we use our personal computers to keep up with work when we travel, and our kids enjoy watching TV shows at home. If these devices are not well protected, we can expose ourselves, our families, and our co-workers to dangerous cyber attacks. Here are six simple security tips you should always remember in order to keep your electronic devices safe.
Physical Security
Having physical access to a device makes it easier for an attacker to extract or corrupt information. Don’t leave your device unattended in easily accessed or public areas.
Keep software up to date
If the vendor releases updates for your device’s software, install them as soon as possible. installing them will prevent attackers from being able to take advantage of known problems or vulnerabilities.
Use strong passwords
Choose devices that will allow you to protect your information with passwords, select passwords that will be difficult for thieves to guess, and use different passwords for different devices and programs. Do not choose options that will allow your computer to remember your passwords.
Disable Remote Connectivity
Some mobile devices are equipped with wireless technologies such as Bluetooth that can be used to connect to other devices or computers. You should permanently disable these features when they’re not in use.
Encrypt files
If you’re storing personal or corporate information, check to see whether or not your device supports encrypting the files. Encrypting files ensures that unauthorized people can’t view data even if they can physically access it. When you use encryption, it is important to remember your passwords or passphrases. If you forget them, you may lose your data.
Be cautious of public Wi-Fi networks
Follow these recommendations when connecting to any public network in a cafe, hotel, bus, airplane, or airport. Confirm the name of the network and the exact login procedures with the appropriate staff to ensure that the network is legitimate. Additionally, only using sites that begin with HTTPS when shopping online or banking using your mobile network connection is generally more secure than using a public Wi-Fi connection.
These six tips are easy to remember and implement. Share them with your friends and family, and read other articles on this page to learn how to protect yourself from cyber-attacks.
