Cyber security has become a sensitive topic today. People use their devices for performing their work but often forget about their security. A small mistake can cause a huge loss of data and finances. There is nothing called cent percent security. But there are a few ways that can help in improving the security of your device. Better security means low chances of getting malware or any kind of hacking problem. The Internet is not a secure place to play. But adopting a few security hacks can help in reducing threats.
Best ways to secure your device from malware and other threats
Install an anti-malware
The easiest and essential method to protect your device from malware is by installing a good antivirus. Earlier, antivirus only removed viruses from the device. But today antivirus or anti-malware has lots of tools that can remove all types of malware like viruses, Trojan Horses, spyware, adware, worms, etc. Antivirus programs are available in freeware and paid plans. The paid plans provide various advanced security tools. You can use all these tools until you have an active plan. When the antivirus paid plan expires, you can renew it and use the tools again. Some antivirus programs also have auto-renewal plans. The plans get renewed automatically before the expiry date. If you don’t want to renew the plan, you can cancel it.
How to cancel Avast automatic renewal?
You can cancel avast subscription auto-renewal from the account. Open the Avast website and log in to your account. Go to the subscription page and check for the active license. Now tap on the Cancel button next to it. Choose a reason to cancel the antivirus. Tap on Confirm and now your Avast auto-renewal is disabled. Now your antivirus plan will not renew after expiry.
Keep your OS and applications updated
You should always keep your OS updated. New threats appear every day. To protect the device from these threats, you get new updates for the OS. These updates are like the fix patches for the loopholes in the Operating system. Updates help to prevent hackers from accessing your device. Whenever you see a new update to your operating system, install it immediately. You can also set the OS in auto-update; when the new update appears, it will get installed on your device automatically. Along with the operating system, you must update all your applications. Keep your web browser, security programs, and all other crucial applications updated. Updates help to secure your browsers from tracking issues and improve online privacy.
Use a personal firewall
If you access the internet on your device, you need a firewall. macOS and Windows offer inbuilt firewalls to secure the information from hackers and other cybercriminals. But new threats and ace hackers can breach those firewalls and access your device. You should install a personal firewall on your device. A personal firewall aids the security of your device. When you enable the personal firewall, it starts checking all the traffic on your network. When any of the data packets is suspicious, the firewall immediately blocks it. Many of the firewalls also inspect your outgoing traffic. Whenever it suspects data theft issues, it blocks the network and ensures that no data can travel outside the network without your concern.
Use a unique and strong password
Your passwords are always the front-line security from hackers. You should always keep a strong password for your device and all your accounts. Not only hackers, but any person nearby you can check and steal your data. If you share your device with anyone, always use strong passwords on all your accounts. Most people use one password for all their accounts as remembering various passwords is difficult. But using the same password can be very dangerous. If a person finds your password, he can access all your accounts. To prevent these types of mistakes, always use a unique password for every account. Also, don’t use a simple password for any of the accounts. People usually create passwords like their DOB, phone number, etc as the password. But these things are easy to guess. Any person can hack your device and steal your data. You should create a long and meaningless password so nobody can guess it. Never jot down your passwords anywhere. If you can’t remember the passwords then use a password manager tool.
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Beware of spam
You can see lots of spam messages and emails from unknown parties. When you open the spam, you can see attachments in it. Never click on any attachments or links on these spam messages. Hackers often use these spam emails to attack your device. When you click on any link, a bot gets installed on your device and then a hacker can access your device. Whenever you see any spam message, move it directly to the spam folder or the trash.
Backup all your crucial data
Today most people store their data in the cloud. Uploading the data to the cloud allows the user to access it from any device. Cloud is a good place to keep your data. But what if the data is hacked? Ransomware encrypts the data and then asks for ransom. To prevent ransomware threats, many security applications offer ransomware protection tools. These tools apply an extra layer of protection to the data. But one of the best methods to secure the data is by creating a backup. Store all your crucial data on a pen drive or external hard disk. If the data is corrupted from your device or it gets hacked on the cloud; you can get the backup from the external hard disk easily.
Never connect your device to the public network
Using a public network feels like free candy. If a personal network is not available, many people start searching for a public network. Whenever you see an open network, they immediately connect their device. But they are not aware of the threats. Public networks can be very harmful to your device and data. Many times, hackers create fake public networks. When a person connects the device to the public network, hackers can easily enter it and steal your data. These cybercriminals can also access your device remotely. To keep the device secure, the network connects your device to the public network. Problems appear when you are traveling outside the country. To access the internet, you can only rely on public networks. If you are at the hotel, ask the staff for secure hotel Wi-Fi. When you don’t have other options, connect the device to a public network and use the VPN. Your VPN will mask the IP address of your device so no one can find it. It also allows you to access the data which is not available in your geographical location.
Use two-factor authentication
For every account, you should use two-factor authentication. This feature will help you to secure your device even if anyone has your password. Whenever you or anyone log in to the account from a new device, you need a password and an OTP. You get this OTP on your phone number or email address. You can only access the account when you enter the correct password and OTP. If anyone has your password, he can’t access the account without the correct OTP.
Stop sharing your device
Sharing is caring; but not always. You should never share your device with anyone. If you share your device, make sure no one can access your personal and banking details. You can create a guest account for sharing your device. If anyone wants to use your device, they can access the guest account. It will ensure that your admin account is fully secure from everyone.