Cyber-attacks are not only way too common but also too difficult to shake off. The first step toward protecting your device from cyber-attacks is to take appropriate safety measures such as improving your passwords, installing a firewall, and scanning the device for viruses. However, simple safety measures are not always enough to keep hackers away from your devices. They have developed sophisticated methods used to perform data breaches and different kinds of cyber-attacks. In other words, you will have to put more effort into cybersecurity measures in order to prevent incidents such as identity theft and data exploitation.
If you are worried that your devices might not be protected enough, here are three methods you can use to improve cybersecurity on your computers, tablets, and smartphones:
IOS, Android, and Windows developers are continuously working on improving the security systems of their devices. These improvements are regularly introduced through system updates. Unfortunately, many people fail to recognize the importance of these updates so they simply ignore them. Let’s face it, we’ve all been way too lazy to update our system at least once.
If you’ve been skipping system updates, it is time to change this bad habit. These updates serve to patch up the holes and reduce the number of vulnerabilities in your device’s security system. It is recommended to turn on the automatic update feature so you don’t have to worry about missing out on new updates. Besides keeping the overall system up to date, make sure that your anti-virus programs and other applications are updated as well.
A VPN or a Virtual Private Network is a service that allows users to hide their IP address by virtually relocating to another area. A VPN service gives you access to hundreds of servers located all over the world. Once you choose a server, all your traffic and data will be routed through it and encrypted along the way. Thus, no one will be able to trace your online activities or tie them with your real name and address.
In other words, a VPN helps you stay hidden from hackers and third parties such as governments and internet service providers. Using a VPN will help you protect your device and keep your data safely encrypted at all times. It is especially important to use a VPN while connected to a public network, as free WiFi connections are unprotected and dangerous.
Last but not least, make sure to comply to the NIST framework to keep your sensitive data protected. The NIST framework is a framework that consists of guidelines on several security-related topics. The framework includes guidelines for identifying threats, protecting your device, detecting possible dangers, recovering from an attack, as well as responding to a cyber-attack.
The NIST framework offers a scalable approach to cybersecurity. It helps you reduce the risk of data breaches by improving risk management and prevention in general. Once you start complying to the NIST framework, you will slowly make it a lot more difficult for hackers to access your data and devices.
Keeping your devices safe from hackers might sound like a challenge but it doesn’t have to be so complicated. If you take time to follow these three steps, you will significantly reduce the chances of becoming a victim of a cyber-attack. All you have to do is turn on automatic system updates, find a reliable VPN service, and focus on employing the NIST framework guidelines.