antivirus software – Growing Forward

Admittedly, the online world is not always friendly. Indeed, massive data breaches have alerted businesses and governments to watch for criminal cyber-attacks. Online privacy is your basic right to protect your information from bad people, and defending your digital privacy starts with keeping your online activities fully secure. These simple tips will greatly help as you strengthen your security barriers.

1. Share less info online

Sensitive information is like gold to cybercriminals. It’s advisable to share very little personal information about yourself when interacting with others online. Be mindful of pictures you post with tags potentially revealing your geolocation. Indeed, the social media domain could be the first place to start guarding your private life responsibly. Apart from that, virtually all your apps collect some information. Governments may enact data privacy laws, but few companies observe these protocols. An example is the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandals.

2. Create strong passwords and activate two-factor authentication

You don’t want to keep using a lazy password in 2023, as it can jeopardize your online security. Strong and unique passwords are essential to your web safety; sometimes, they are the only way to keep out malicious hackers. It helps to periodically change your password and active two-factor (2FA) to boost your security. Activating multi-step verification gives your online account an extra security barrier if your password lands in the wrong hands.

3. Install antivirus software

The best antivirus apps protect your computer from malware, including trojan horses; this virus can hide behind your device and steal your vital information. On the other hand, bots can turn your PC into a zombie soldier and further infiltrate your system with spam. Experts recommend you update your antivirus software and upgrade your operating system to the latest version. Most antivirus scanners show a green button when everything is in order, but don’t forget to watch out for the red flags.

4. Don’t be too comfortable with public WIFI

Cybercriminals can threaten security if you love connecting to public WIFI routers without minding your privacy. FCC advises users to stick to their home network connections to help lower their risks of exposure online. If you must use public WIFI, ensure you don’t enter sensitive details about yourself everywhere. And you can achieve this in several ways. For instance, learning how to bypass school WIFI with VPN apps is beneficial if you always utilize it. Virtual private network applications secure and encrypt your connection to the internet, including your school WIFI. This way, you can hide your IP address and browse it anonymously.

5. Desist from installing sketchy software

Not every app you see is healthy for your consumption. Some sketchy apps can track you 24/7 and harvest your crucial information without seeking permission. You create security loopholes when you install untrusted browser extensions and other pieces of software online. Make it a point to configure your privacy settings in your devices to ensure no app is broadcasting your sensitive info like location, contacts, email, etc. As far as your online activity is concerned, security starts with being careful about your digital behavior.

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How do you protect your business online and offline? If this is a question that has been on the back of your mind, then it’s time to get some answers. So many things can affect your business – from hackers to competitors. This article has compiled a list of strategies for protecting yourself in the digital world, so you don’t become another statistic.

Be Mindful of Social Media Networks

Social media platforms are great ways to stay connected with customers, but they also present security risks and should be monitored closely. In addition, users often forget about privacy settings, which means everything shared on these sites could make its way into the public domain if you don’t carefully consider it when posting content. Remember: what you post on the internet stays on the internet.

Guard Your Address

A great way to protect your business is by guarding your address. Of course, if you’re a sole trader, this might not be an issue. Still, if you have any employees who need access to company accounts and records, it’s essential that they also safeguard their personal information. That means keeping all of their information safe too.

Your online address needs safeguarding, too; you can choose to sign up for a new email account if you don’t feel safe with your current one.

Be Careful About BYOD

Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD for short is a great way to increase productivity. Still, it also increases security risks by allowing employees access to sensitive company information from their own devices. Therefore, it’s a recommendation for companies to implement policies restricting this practice to reduce any vulnerabilities.

Install an Antivirus Software

As internet security risks continue to increase, businesses must take the necessary precautions by installing anti-viruses on all workstations and servers. The great thing about these programs is they often come with firewalls that can help protect your computer against outside attacks.

Take Advantage of Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication is a great way to protect your online accounts. This process requires users to provide additional information beyond their password when signing in, such as a code sent via text message or an automated phone call which you can use as another layer of protection against unauthorized access. Be sure to enable this feature on all essential accounts.

Limit Administrator Access

Administrators are the only users who should have full control over company computers and servers to prevent unauthorized changes. However, if user accounts have too much privilege, it can lead to security breaches, so limit what they can do on their computers as best you can.

It’s essential to keep a close eye on company information; this can be difficult if you don’t have the necessary tools in place. With all of these strategies in mind, your business should remain protected against vulnerabilities and threats that could compromise data security. Stay vigilant.

Protect Your Devices

Take steps to protect all of the devices used for company purposes, including computers and mobile phones. This step is significant when accessing business information from outside networks like public WiFi hotspots because these connections tend to be less secure than home or office connections. If you don’t have a security suite installed on your devices, you should prioritize this.