As Hackers get stronger, there are bigger security oversights you may not know about. Even businesses can get caught out by this and have to be incredibly careful about what they do and how they secure their systems, for example, it is important that they look into software like phantom secure as well as others, to help encrypt their messages and emails so that a cyberattack does not expose their sensitive information. Kurt the CyberGuy explains our biggest security mistakes and how to fix them:
1. Forgetting to turn on home wifi password
- if your home internet is older (5+ yrs) you may not have password option – update!
- when you set your password you’re given a choice of security
- safest is to select wpa2 = highest level of security for home wireless password. WPA2 stands for Wireless Protected Access version 2 and is the most secure form of security to choose for your home wifi router during the setup process and password selection. WPA2 should be used instead of WEP or WPA whenever possible since it improves the security of WiFi connections by requiring stronger encryption.
2. Not updating your software
- companies update operating systems primarily for security
- new update locks out hackers, who may have found a security hole in older version
- you’re vulnerable because hackers can see you’re using outdated version
3. Leaving your phone unlocked
- don’t disable passcode out of convenience – or set it down unlocked even at work
- takes a matter of a few seconds for someone with bad intentions to take over your phone (using mspy software) or they can scan through your info and find something out about you
- fingerprint technology hard to use the older you are, fingerprints worn down – choosing not to lock because it’s hard to unlock is big mistake
4. Letting someone borrow your laptop/phone – briefly
- don’t share your personal tech like you don’t share your toothbrush
- someone at work or home using your email “can i just check something”
- even friend checking email, they can open something that could do harm to you
5. Clicking a link inside of an email – sends you to a place that asks for your info
- this happens to smartest of people
- need to ask yourself– did i expect this email?
- Take a look at these three images below from Wells Fargo, US Bank and Bank of America. Can you tell which one is real?
If you guessed the Bank of America image, you’re correct! The Wells fargo and US Bank images are phishing scams and shouldn’t be clicked on.
TIP: Before you click on any link in an email, if you’re using a Firefox or Chrome browser, hover your mouse over the link (don’t click on it). After hovering you’ll see a web address appear in the bottom left hand outer frame of your browser. If the web address that is indicated in this area seems strange, don’t click on the link. You may consider contacting the company on their website or calling that company to verify that the email indeed came from them.
