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How to Prevent Cyberattacks: Top Ways to Protect Yourself

Cybersecurity threats and attacks are more common than you think. In 2021, we saw how ransomware attacks affected major organizations like JBS Foods and Colonial Pipeline. Hackers exploited the companies’ security weaknesses to gain access to confidential information, causing significant damage to the organizations’ operations and reputations.

Cyber attacks refer to deliberate attempts at compromising your device or data. Whether you run a business or use your personal laptop for various needs, you need to take the right preventive measures against cyber attacks.

Here are a few tips for business owners and individuals:

Update Your Device’s Operating System

When was the last time you actually went through with the OS updates? You know that annoying message you keep on ignoring? It’s time to pay attention to it and do the needful.

Using outdated software invites all kinds of malware attacks. It enables hackers and cyber criminals to access your device and steal your data. This is why it’s imperative that you update your operating system regularly to minimize the chances of security breaches. A simple way to do this is by enabling automatic updates on your device.

a glowing laptop screen

Don’t Link Accounts

Yes, we know how convenient it is to simply log into multiple websites and social media accounts using your standard account. It saves you the hassle of re-entering email IDs and passwords every time you need to sign in at a different platform. However, this convenient hack comes with its set of disadvantages, the biggest being compromised security.

If your main account gets hacked, you might as well say goodbye to all the other linked accounts too. This is traumatizing enough for an individual, so you can imagine the impact it may have on your business. Hackers can gain access to any and all information you’ve shared on multiple platforms by controlling your main and linked accounts.

While we’re on the subject, you need to upgrade your passwords too. It’s the oldest trick in the book, but it works. Having the same password for all your accounts can significantly compromise your online security and weaken your level of online protection. Use different passwords for different accounts.

Secure Your Devices

Finally, make sure all your devices are secured. If you fail to do this, you can end up losing critical information in a matter of seconds. Your device may be hacked, compromising your data privacy and security.

There are multiple ways to do this. For starters, make sure you have anti-virus software installed on all your laptops, computers, and even mobile phones. This is especially important for corporate settings. You should also opt for online VPN proxy servers and internet security.

Additionally, taking simple measures like setting passwords for logging into devices and installing applications can also help strengthen security.

Looking for reliable VPN proxy services for your personal or business use? Get in touch with our VPN providers for small businesses to minimize the chances of cyber attacks. Contact us now to get started.