There is no denying that, as we use technology in our daily lives, our personal and business information is at risk. Reported data breaches are rising, and many organizations have to go beyond what used to be required to maintain their security measures, and often the issues can be easily resolved.
It’s wise for all companies to use cybersecurity services and measures including firewalls, anti-malware, and other protections. However, many data breaches are caused not by advanced hacking software, but by employee negligence, which is often caused by improper training on how to save and protect private information.
There are some simple email and password security measures everyone can take that can, and will, offer a higher level of protection.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication is a more secure method using multiple stages of security in order to log in to an account. This can be used for personal login information as well as access to software systems.
Once a user has entered their password, they will be required to provide another identifier, such as a code sent through a text to their phone, a verification on a phone app, or a biometric identifier like a fingerprint.
This provides an almost-foolproof layer of added protection against outside threats that are increasingly finding ways around initial passwords.
Use a Spam Filtering Service
Businesses are often targeted through malicious emails. By clicking a link you can unintentionally give access to your systems. Most email accounts come with some form of spam and email filtering system, but often, these are not strong enough.
Cyber criminals are always working to find ways of bypassing these systems. It is important to introduce and install a more advanced filter system so that you are better protected from phishing emails and scams.
Learn How to Recognize Phishing Emails
It is important for you to learn and recognize the signs of a phishing email before you fall prey to an attack.
One sign is that no official organization will send an email from a public domain such as Gmail. Legitimate companies use their company names as the domain, for example, an email from Amazon will come from “@amazon.com.”
Another trick is that they may use the company name in the domain, but slightly misspell it so it resembles correspondence from the legitimate company at a glance. Check the content of the email to look at the diction and spelling, as text will often be riddled with odd syntax or grammatical errors.
Phishing attacks also often convey an air of urgency by threatening you with legal action or financial consequences if you don’t act on their demands and requests quickly—something else that legitimate companies will never do.
Never open attachments or links from an email that may be suspicious. Simply by clicking a link, you may be giving hackers and viruses access to your systems.
Create Strong Passwords
Most websites will have a type of measurement indicating the strength of your password as you create it. Follow password guidelines such as including numbers, capital letters, and special characters as a way to strengthen your password and avoid giving hackers easy access to your account.
The more unique a password is, the harder it will be to bypass it. Avoid using the same password for multiple sites, as scammers can use the same information to break into your other accounts.
Everyone should learn these basic security tips in addition to installing software cybersecurity protection to keep systems secure and employ truly comprehensive cybersecurity measures.