How prepared are you for a cyber-attack?
As society becomes more reliant on technology, people are becoming increasingly exposed to the risk of having their personal details stolen via cybercriminals such as hackers or scammers.
The Australian Government has identified that the main cybercrimes that Australians fall victim to are:
- External advisories
- Phone scams
- Malware
- Identity theft
- Email scams
- Secondary targeting
- Ransomware
- Phishing
- Malicious insiders
How to reduce your risk?
There are certain habits you can adopt and tools you can use to ensure that you are minimising your exposure to the risk of falling victim to a cyber-attack. These include:
Use safe, complex passwords and don’t use the same one everywhere
It seems like a no brainer to use many complex passwords but even to this day, people still use the same simple password for multiple sites. While it may seem like a hassle to remember multiple passwords, this is the simplest and most critical method to ensure you are not exposed to being attacked.
Two-factor authentication technology
Having an extra step to verify your identity is a simple method to safeguarding your sensitive information. Authentication technology is where an extra step is required to login to the access point. This is generally through the use of a code being sent to another device and requiring that code to be input into the system.
Utilising authentication technology can mean that while the hacker may have accessed your computer, they can’t access your details without your phone.
Only access personal sites and information through the internet on secure networks
If you are accessing a site that stores your personal information, you must access these sites on a safe and trusted network. Insecure connections are a breeding ground for hackers to prey on your computer and personal details.
Technology has helped to make life a whole lot more convenient, but it has also provided us with higher risk. Being tech-savvy and having sensible habits when it comes to using the internet is key to ensuring you stay safe online.
If you require any assistance with managing your business’ technology or require IT support to set up or fix an issue for your technology suite, contact the team at Provide Technology today.
