Did you know that more than £190,000 a day is lost in the UK by victims of cyber-crime? More than 30% of victims in the second half of 2018 fell prey to the hacking of social media and email accounts. However, there is more to cybercrime than hacking – DDoS Attacks, botnets, identity theft, cyberstalking, phishing, to name a few.
More important questi
ons, however, is how we can protect ourselves from cybercrime. Here are a few pointers:
1. Don’t go cheap on an internet security suite. Choose full-service real-time protection against existing and emerging malicious software.
2. Password: password – really? Use strong, complex passwords, ideally a combination of at least 10 letters, numbers, and symbols. And change them regularly.
3. Don’t ‘remind me later’ me! Hackers never sleep – it’s common knowledge. They keep updating the malware, so keep your antivirus and internet security software updated.
4. Manage your social media settings. Also, be mindful of what info you give away on your social media platforms. Your pet’s name might Open Sesame.
5. Strengthen your security on Wi-Fi. A strong encryption password and a virtual private network when using public Wi-Fi is an excellent place to start..
6. Make your children aware of the threat. Online bullying is also a cybercrime!
7. British Airways or NHS hacked again? Look out for major cybersecurity breaches, as it may affect you.
8. Protect your personal information from theft. The VPN surely works well for digital data. However, don’t forget about the good old fashioned mail theft, as personal details included in your letters may be used in a cyber attack. Shred your mail with care.
