The very best qualities of the digital landscape are certainly worth celebrating. Internet users now have access to a vast wealth of the world’s collective knowledge, educational opportunities, advice from supportive communities, and collaborative outlets for work and entertainment.
There is undoubtedly a dark side to the online world, a concept well-known to concerned parents and business owners alike.
Staying safe online in 2021 requires a self-application, a keen eye for spotting nefarious websites, and in many cases, a little help from a decent software solution. Since cyber-crime is on the rise, striving to increase your security seems only natural.
If you feel as though you could be doing more to protect your business interests in the online realm, or like you want to be doing more to ensure the safety and comfortability of your digital experience, here are some important points to consider.
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Keep on Top of Updates
It can be easy to be suspicious of updates, especially when they change the aesthetic of your browser or operating system. It is vital to make sure you download and install these updates, however, as they essentially help to keep you safe online, alongside a host of other benefits.
Turning on automatic updates is a good first step, but there will often be times when you will be prompted to manually download a new software version, and this option should not be ignored.
Outdated software versions will likely cease to function over time, and they are usually more susceptible to cyber-attacks. This is partly because cybercriminals are consistently developing new types of digital attacks, such as trojans, ransomware, and viruses. To keep up the defense against modern developments, updates are a must.
Cyber Security Professionals
Looking after your digital assets is crucial in the modern world, which is an extremely important aspect to consider for anyone running a business.
Sometimes, enlisting the help of experienced cyber security experts is one of the best ways to go. Considering the sheer amount of damage that a successful cyber-attack has the potential to make, outsourcing your company’s digital security efforts may be an incredibly cost-effective investment that supports you every step of the way.
Moreover, employing an inhouse IT department is not financially viable for many smaller businesses, so outsourcing your solutions might provide a perfect alternative.
The digital landscape is constantly shifting and moving in brand-new directions, so having some experts watching over your shoulder, providing advice whenever you need it can help put your mind at rest.
Backup
Backing up your data is a must for many reasons, not least of all to help prevent the complete loss of assets should a successful attack take place.
If your data is safely secured in a secondary location, locked behind a password, and perhaps another authentication step, you can decrease the likelihood that a potential breach will damage your sensitive assets.
This is generally a great way to protect against data loss, a costly mistake that can hurt a business not only financially but provide a public relations nightmare to deal with.
There are many great ways to do this, such as cloud storage options or a physical external hard drive.
Choose a Range of Different Passwords
Some of the best advice is advice that endures. Making sure you adopt a range of different passwords for all your login details is still just as important as ever in terms of staying safe online.
It can be so tempting to use one password for every website simply because it is easy to remember.
However, this should be avoided as one single cyber-security breach could lead directly to all of your details being compromised. Making sure you have different passwords for every login can help greatly in combatting this situation.
There is no need to struggle with juggling 20 passwords in your head at any given time, as you can note them down on your phone or even use some password management software.
If your password consists of the word, ‘password’ it might be time to think about changing it to make it harder to crack.
VPNs
A VPN (virtual private network) is a great way of disguising your location and allowing yourself to take to the online world without fear of being monitored.
It has a range of other beneficial features, such as the ability to let you access region-locked content. If you want to keep yourself out of the view of malicious parties, investing in a VPN might be the way to go.