It is a new year and we keep hearing of security breaches and websites that are compromised. There is a new term for this: Cyber security. There are several things you can do to secure your data / information online and offline.
1) Update or install an antivirus on your machine.
The Antivirus scans the machines and protects you from any illegal script that can be used to access your information like your passwords and browser history. Order the AVG antivirus for your computer now.
2) Update your passwords.
A strong password has numbers, letters and special characters (?>!0_+) and can be 8 characters in length.
3) Enter your payment details only on secure websitesÂ
Any time you shop online and you have to enter your credit card details ensure the website address begins with HTTPS://. The HTTPS means the website is secured using an SSL certificate and no one can intercept your credit card information.
If you are a website owner, order SSL certificate for your website today. An SSL certificate raises your websites credibility and gives assurance to online shoppers that their information is safe hence you get more sales.
Also an SSL certificate is used as indicate to help your website rank hire on Google search results page.
4) Protect your smart phone / laptop.
Protect your laptop / desktop wish a password so that no one can access your data in your absence.
As for your smart phone, enable the remote access feature so that the data can be erased remotely so that no one can access your files.
5) Website accounts like Facebook / Twitter
As always, be careful of the information you share. Some of it can be used to track you down, find where you live, work, your parents or children. This is exposes to identity theft risk..where someone can impersonate you using the information you have provided. On Facebook you can restrict you information to only friends as a precaution.
6) Look at the domain name
Cyber attackers will sometimes create websites that mimic existing websites and try to trick people into purchasing something on or logging into their phishing site. These sites often look exactly like the existing website. So instead of facebook.com, the attacker can create faccbook.com which is a different domain. And you my not know until you enter your personal information.
