Ft. Wayne Cyber Security Tips – How to Avoid Cyber Attacks

Cyber threats are constantly increasing, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Because, when a business exposes themselves to the digital world, the risk of cyber attacks increases, creating a harmful effect to the business.

So, businesses are paving the way for the cyber attackers when they are less concerned about the cyber threat. Hence, it is essential to create awareness about cyber threats.

In this article, we are going to share some cyber security tips which may help to avoid or overcome the cyber attacks faced by your business.

9+ Cyber Security Tips

1. Maintaining Passwords

Password is something essential that would keep hackers away from your data/business and is critical to online security. Thus, implementation of a proper password management would help in handling passwords efficiently.

Do’s	Dont’s
Create unique strong and lengthy passwords Stick to some good security practices while creating passwords Use different passwords for different accounts Implementation of a strong password management tool Use of SSO – Single Sign On. A secure portal to sign in once and access variety of applications Make your passwords unique and strong	Share your passwords to your team members or others Save passwords in your internet browser Use same login credentials for all your accounts

2. Making Secure Payments

Digital transactions come with their own risk. Though, they are convenient, when not implemented in the right way, will result in reaching the hands of fraudsters. Secure payment is an essential factor that is to be considered for a business to gain trust among its customers.

Do’s	Dont’s
Create a strong PIN/password for the wallets through which the payments will be made Download and use only verified applications for making the payment Guide the buyer with proper instructions for making the payment Configure antivirus as it can help in protecting the system Implement strong customer authentication	Disclose the PIN/CVV to anybody Save your card details in any payment applications or online platforms Download any third-party or unsecure payment applications or gateways Scan unidentified QR codes

3. Include Two-Factor or Multi-Factor Authentication

Two-factor or multi-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that would verify whether the logged-in user is the authorized one. Furthermore, this implementation would not let hackers steal your data, even if they were able to crack your login credentials.

Do’s	Dont’s
Create strong and unique passwords Keep your passwords and authentication data secure Keep unauthorized users away from your accounts	Create weak passwords Share your passwords or authentication data

4. Beware of Email Attachments

This is a form of a phishing scam where the hacker will act as a genuine sender and send any malicious email which, when opened, will lead your business vulnerable to attack. It may further lead to ransomware due to this phishing attempt.

Do’s	Dont’s
Use a spam filter Use an antivirus software Secure your passwords Avoid unsolicited emails and messages Be careful when using a public Wi-Fi	Send sensitive information through emails Open any emails or messages if you feel that they are suspicious Open an attachment from anyone that you were not expecting Click open any links in spam emails

5. Think Before you Click the Links

It is another form of a phishing attempt, where the users are urged to click any suspicious links. Even though, the links  look legitimate they will lead elsewhere.

Do’s	Dont’s
Use a spam filter Use an antivirus software Secure your passwords Avoid unsolicited emails and messages Be careful when using a public Wi-Fi	Send sensitive information through emails/messages Open any emails or messages if you feel that they are suspicious Click on links from anyone that you were not expecting

6. Keep your Software Updated

Always keep your software up to date. This will help to mitigate ransomware by patching the outdated software.

Do’s	Dont’s
Turn on automatic updates on your system Check whether your desktop web browsers use automatic security updates Keep the browser plugins updated	Run software that is outdated

7. Backup and Have a Disaster Plan

Always, taking a backup of your data on a regular basis is an essential step when it comes to online security. In case you become a victim of ransomware, this backup would help in recovering your lost data.

Do’s	Dont’s
Back up on a regular basis Have a monitored backup system Always have a disaster plan	Ignore backing up

8. Use Secure Wi-Fi Connection

First and foremost, the safety of your devices depends on the security of the network using which the data is transmitted. For Example, getting connected through a Wi-Fi network without encryption is like you are paving the way for hackers to access your data. Always ensure that you use a VPN connection while using a public Wi-Fi network.

Do’s	Dont’s
Be sure to use encrypted Wi-Fi network Use a mobile network instead of a public Wi-Fi connection	Don’t Use public Wi-Fi network

9. Secure Mobile Devices

Smartphones and other portable devices could be one of the reasons for your company’s cyber security attacks, as their software is not updated regularly. Also, implement a mobile phone policy and protect the devices from easy access.

Do’s	Dont’s
Create strong passwords Install applications from tested sources Enable backups Keep the device updated	Send sensitive information over messages or emails Download files if it’s not necessary Connect to public Wi-Fi network

10. Understand Social Engineering

Certainly, social engineering is the most effective way used by hackers to access a business’s confidential data. Most often, this happens due to human error as the cybercriminals manipulate to compromise a person to share confidential information. The social engineering attack can be avoided by giving proper training to your employees on cyber security threats and tips to tackle the situation.

Do’s	Dont’s
Train your employees on social engineering attacks and ways to identify and avoid the situation Avoid emails from an unknown or suspicious addresses Implement a spam filter Sent test phishing emails to create awareness on social engineering attacks	Open any suspicious emails Share passwords, access codes, or any digital data to someone you never know Share confidential data through emails Click on any links from spam emails

Additional Cyber Security Tips

Use antivirus protection and firewall – Antivirus is a dominant solution for malicious attacks. First, the antivirus software helps in blocking malware and malicious viruses from entering your system and stealing your data. Most importantly, keep the antivirus software updated and to use only antivirus software at a time.

Risk management plan – Second, having reliable IT support would always help in reducing the impact on your business when a data breach occurs. Having a risk management plan would help you to analyze the situation and also to implement the necessary things to overcome the loss.

Implement cyber security policy – For a secure business, implementation of a cyber security policy is one of the best practices. Consequently, ensure all the employees are aware of the security policy, and they practice it by implementing them.

Protect your PII (personal identifiable information) – In short, PII is the information that includes name, address, phone number, social security number, IP address, and any other digital data information. Too, information can be utilized by a hacker to identify and locate an individual. Finally, entering your personal information in your social media accounts will be an added advantage for cybercriminals, increasing the risk of security breaches.

It’s Time to Secure your Data

Whether you are already running a business or about to establish it, cyber security needs to be a top priority.

Also, are you looking for expert guidance on cyber security threats and their prevention methods? Visit our website, LEAP Ft. Wayne. We can help you with the best solutions by understanding your needs and business.

Want to learn more about Cyber Security? Get Certified with LEAP’s Gold Standard Cyber Security Certification and get a certificate!

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