Get Security From Hacking – 5 Things to Do in 2021

As a small or midsized business owner, you are always busy. To-Do lists have grown exponentially since the start of the pandemic. Adding extra layers of cyber security may not even be on your list. But nothing can bring your business to a grinding halt like a cyberattack. We don’t focus on the right level of protection until our hard-earned data is breached and our business investment is threatened. By then, it’s too late, and we would do anything to go back and fix it.

Hackers will always try to get into your network. In 2020, hackers managed to breach government data and that of thousands of companies. You have no control over what cybercriminals will try next or the weaknesses in the software we use. But in 2021, we can take steps to protect our data and network. As a business owner, it starts with you. You must learn the basic steps to help prevent a data breach.

5 Steps to Reduce Hacking:

• Hold Your Clicks – Resist the impulse to automatically click on anything attached to an email or text. The links can be so tempting. The email addresses and graphics may look official. In reality, they may be the clever façades of a Spoofing and Phishing scam www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/ common-scams-and-crimes/ spoofing-and-phishing. These scams are some of the most commonly used by hackers to breach your personal and business data. Take your time. Hover over the link and review the actual email address before clicking. There is no sure-fire way to avoid phishing, but it is worth your while to be extra cautious. When in doubt, don’t open it.
• Password Management – Using strong and unique passwords is a crucial first step toward protecting your online accounts. You cannot get by anymore using your birthday, your pet’s name or just “password.” Security comes from generating unique and complicated multi-character passwords. Remembering a wide variety of passwords is a daunting task, and as a result, a password manager is an essential tool. Password managers wikipedia.org/wiki/Password_manager are simple programs that generate, save and retrieve passwords. Password management is part of the first line of defense against hackers, and using a password manager streamlines this process.
• Multi-Factor Authentication – Think of a password as your second line of defense against a data breach. Multi-Factor Authentication works with your password as a powerful tool in your anti-hacking arsenal. It is another way of proving that you are who you purport to be when logging in to an online account by asking for one or more additional pieces of credentials. The request for multi-factor authentication is generated within an app or sent separately via text message. The extra few seconds it takes to validate your identity are worthwhile, further protecting your online activities.
• Keep All Your Software Up to Date – All of your technology needs to be continuously updated - your cell phones, computers, smart devices and anything else that connects to your network. Software developers spend a lot of time on security fixes long after they’ve launched a new program. Security glitches come to light as more and more people use a program. Updating the software for all your devices will help you minimize those security glitches. If you have the option, setting your devices to auto-update will help keep your security in step with what the developers correct.
• Clean Up After Yourself – Our internet search history records where we’ve been and what we’ve been doing online. It is essential to delete your search history. Whether you use Google or another search engine, clearing your browser’s history should be part of your cyber routine. For more robust and comprehensive security, a remote-access vpn will help you control your online visibility.
  • In addition to clearing recent history, it is equally important to delete old accounts. Maybe you have an AOL email account from the late 1980s. Or you still have an old MySpace account lost in cyberspace. Your online dating profile might still be out there. Hackers can manipulate these abandoned accounts and the personal information and photos they contain and use them against you. They may contain data that links to something you still do today. Old online emails and social media accounts are NOT mementos. They are unattended security risks.

DIGIGUARD Cyber Security Knows How to Prevent a Cyberattack

You may already use some of these protective measures. But as your business grows and you add more devices such as smart controls, wireless access and remote access, your network surface attack area becomes even larger. DIGIGUARD, which specializes in preventing cyber threats, has a wide array of solutions. It works with small and mid-size businesses to ensure their confidential data has the best protection possible. Many companies such as law firms, medical practices and financial services are bound by strict compliance and privacy laws. Cyberattacks can have devastating consequences. DIGIGUARD can assess your cyber risks and work with you to ensure you have the best protection solution for your business.

Call DIGIGUARD CYBER SECURITY at 833-33-CYBER (833-332-9237) and visit www.DIGIGUARDsecurity.com to start locking down your cyber security to protect your data in 2021.