Remote work, and online work, in general, have become far more common. Millions of people attend their digital jobs daily. This puts a huge amount of individuals at risk of cyber security threats. Those who make careless mistakes online have an increased chance of falling victim to these risks. Many of us make these mistakes, no matter how technologically advanced we may be. While working online you don’t want to be susceptible to any threats. By preventing the most common mistakes that lead to cyber security risks, you can maintain online safety. Here are the cyber security mistakes you must avoid.
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1. Weak Passwords
Strong passwords are your best friend. Those who have weak, short passwords usually experience hackers or other security threats. The more simple your password is, the easier it is for hackers to access your information. I know memorizing longer passwords can be annoying. Truly, it is worth your time to create variations of a similar password for different accounts. Pick a password that is both complex and easy for you to remember. The reason why you should have variations of your password is so that if it is discovered, the hacker can’t access any other accounts. Just in case you forget your passwords one day, write them down. After writing your passwords down, keep them in a safe location that’s preferably locked up. It isn’t a good idea to store your passwords online either. Storing passwords online is like handing your private information on a golden platter to cyber security threats. “Another thing to avoid doing is saving your login information on apps/sites. Hackers can easily obtain your information when it’s saved on your computer. Do yourself a favor and make yourself strong, reliable passwords that you will thoroughly protect” says Anna Wood, a business writer at Academ Advisor and Boomessays.
2. Too Much Trust
Working at home around your family seems like a safe, worry-free environment. This is certainly not the case! Leaving your devices unsupervised is a terrible idea. For example, young children don’t know any better and might tamper with your technology. There are several true instances where children have bought items on their parent’s accounts. With one-click favor purchasing and auto-filling information, kids from ages 5-10 can spend money online. Besides that, kids can also delete any of your documents, emails, or any other thing of importance. Whether purposely or not, kids can mess with your online safety too. Other people in your family can also do these things. Putting your full trust in those around your devices can lead to several issues. Avoid any hassle, and keep your devices protected.
3. Poor Maintenance
Red flags shouldn’t be pushed to the side. There are warning signs when security breaches have occurred. Frozen screens, zero control over your mouse, pop-ups, or any other obvious changes are some warning signs. If your devices are experiencing these issues, contact a technological expert. It’s best to go in store so the expert can help you immediately. Avoiding red flags isn’t worth it, especially when all of your information is on the line. Other poor maintenance can also interfere with your online safety. Although they are annoying, software updates are essential for your device’s protection and efficiency. Software updates tend to be common because the majority of the time, they are made to prevent threats. Bugs or glitches are often fixed during security updates. “If you don’t let your devices update, these bugs and glitches leave an opportunity for threats to access your information. Next time you get a notification for a software update, please go through with it. Keep your device up to date, and get it checked if there are any warning signs” says Jesse Pogue, a technical writer at Writing populist and Big Assignments.
4. Extra Precautions
There is no harm in taking extra precautions to enhance your online safety. One precaution is taking the internet by storm, and it is known as a VPN. A VPN is a virtual private network. By using one, you can change your location, making it harder for threats to hack you. It also stops tracking your search history, preventing hackers from seeing what you are doing online. This extra precaution can be highly useful, and I recommended investing in a VPN.
Your Safety
Your safety online is of the utmost importance. The online world is full of many unknown things. Don’t take your safety for granted, and avoid making any of these common cyber security mistakes.
Social media strategist Christina Lee works at Best essay writing services, and Student writing services. Christina also writes about marketing topics on Top Canadian Writers and other sites.
