Today, technology plays a crucial role in various aspects of our lives, from how we communicate and interact to how we work. With such an aggressive and highly interconnected world, safety and security have become paramount, especially for everyone at home.
Now that various cybersecurity threats are looming, we must educate ourselves and our family members about the many practices that could deter these attacks. With that, listed below are a few helpful tips that could help you and your loved ones counter various cybersecurity threats.
Use a Strong Password Combination
A robust password leverages various elements to create a hard-to-guess combination. Ideally, it should use uppercase and lowercase characters, numbers, and symbols. It also has to be ten characters or more.
Moreover, avoid using personal information like birthdays or names of a loved one, repeated characters or a series of characters, or a word pulled from a dictionary. Using weak passwords like that will enable hackers to access your devices and accounts.
It’s also ideal to update your passwords regularly. Try once every three to six months or if you suspect someone knows your password. However, when changing passwords, always do so on a device you trust, like the ones at home. Of course, it’s also best to never write down your passwords for anyone to see.
Be Careful When Accessing Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi networks are unprotected and can be hacked easily. When a hacker infiltrates the network, and you happen to connect to one, they could inject viruses or malware into your device.
If you think you have no choice but to connect to public Wi-Fi, be careful with what you open. Avoid accessing any personal or financial data to prevent hackers from accessing them.
Keep All of Your Software Updated
Manufacturers provide software updates to address issues in their product’s previous versions. Some of these issues could be cybersecurity-related. If you keep using an outdated version of a program, you could become vulnerable to various cyber-attacks.
Regardless of the program, it’s ideal that you keep up with the latest versions of all software and applications you use. Most programs remind you if any updates are available. However, you must always check in case you missed a notification. You can also enable automatic updates so the program can immediately update itself.
Activate Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication is the process where users provide multiple verification factors, typically two, to gain access to an account or application. Generally, multi-factor authentication involves a password (first step) and a code sent to a smartphone (second step) for users to enter.
This type of layered verification process creates more than one barrier to deter hackers. You can use it on different online accounts, including email, online banking, and various e-commerce platforms.
Meanwhile, some people elevate this idea and use a basic cell phone to receive multi-factor authentication codes. Some might say it’s unnecessary. Others believe that there are some holes hackers can go through in smartphones to achieve these codes, mainly through phishing scams. Unfortunately, most of our older family members are unaware of such risks.
The good news is that many providers still offer cell phones. You can buy flip phones for seniors in the family to provide a secure communication device that keeps them away from hacking attempts in emails, social media platforms, and other malicious sites.
Be Cautious of Phishing Attacks
Phishing is one of the most dangerous cybersecurity threats that your family could fall victim to. It involves an attacker deceiving unsuspecting individuals into voluntarily revealing or providing sensitive information. Unfortunately, many older adults are clueless about such an attack. Many fall victim and lose significant amounts of money to this threat.
Everyone in the family must know the many cybersecurity threats that could harm them. The key is understanding these attacks and how to identify them. As discussed above, phishing is an attack that tricks people into complying with a seemingly urgent request. The next step is to learn the tell-tale signs of these attacks.
Phishing attacks typically involve emails that demand urgent action. They usually include threats with negative consequences or a loss of opportunity if the recipient fails to comply. However, they commonly utilize emails with bad grammar and spelling mistakes and have unfamiliar greetings or salutations, making them easy to detect.
Another way to spot phishing is to find inconsistencies in the email addresses, links, and domain names. They also send out suspicious attachments that you must never open. Plus, some appear too good to be true, like emails that promise to incentivize recipients to click on a link.
Protect Your Family
As technology continues to shape the world, prioritizing cybersecurity at home is becoming more crucial. By employing multiple tools and practicing various techniques, we can ensure our loved ones are safe from hacking attempts on their devices. Always encourage online vigilance and take the necessary precautions.
