It seems like cyber-security attacks are growing by the day. The truth is that cyber-security has always been there but today it is getting more serious than ever. You see, it’s not only businesses that have network systems that are at risk. Even individual home users and computer users are susceptible to become a victim of cyber attacks. Therefore, it is best to understand the concept of cyber-security attacks in order to protect your system from being compromised.
Let’s say you are using your PC to surf the Internet. When you visit a website, you are actually visiting a server that has a network of servers all linked to your computer. As you log into the site, data that is sent to your browser is passing through this large network of computers. All the while, someone is monitoring what you’re doing.
This is actually your network being compromised. Now, if you take precautions to protect your network then you will be able to avoid being taken advantage of by the cyber-criminals who want to gain access to your personal and private information. What types of precautions should you take? Well, for one, you should always use a firewall while online. This will prevent hackers from gaining access to your system, so your information will remain safe.
You should also use anti-virus software and a security suite, which contain firewalls as well as other software to protect your system. If you are unsure about installing certain software, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most commercial security software is pretty easy to install. Many times, you can even update the software without having to restart your PC.
Don’t rely solely on your Antivirus software. Use your PC security tools such as MalwareBytes or Webroot Internet Security Suite to check for updates and run scans on your network. These will scan your entire system and report any problems. Not only that, but they will also delete anything that is infecting your computer. There’s no need for you to be bothered with bogus viruses when you can protect yourself with great software that does the same thing.
When running your scans, though, you should always perform them from an offline location. Never open any infections that are trying to connect to your system. This can open you up to a lot of problems, including allowing hackers to get hold of your personal information. Just because they are not attacking your files right away doesn’t mean that they aren’t there. Hackers have a lot of time and patience to get their hands on as much information as they can before you will notice anything.
Keep in mind that there may be attacks occurring while you are online, as well. It is common for malware to spread through various email attachments. In fact, many attacks that are not designed to gain access to your data happen to contain spyware as well. Just because you didn’t download anything, doesn’t mean that your network isn’t vulnerable. All it takes is for an infected email attachment or program to make its way into your personal directory and then begin the process of spreading.
While cyber-security attacks are nothing new, there are some new threats that have been appearing recently. Don’t forget that you need to update your anti-virus software frequently as well, along with a firewall program and even malware protection. If you do that routinely, you won’t have any problems as long as you don’t let these attacks compromise you.
The first thing you can do is change your password regularly. Make sure that you never use the same password for different sites. Use different passwords for financial and social accounts. Never write down your personal information on a post-it note. It may be next to impossible to recover that data in the event of identity theft. It’s also a good idea to keep your social security card very secure, especially if you think you might have to use it at a job interview.
Keep your system up-to-date by running full antivirus scan at least once a week. You can do this both automatically (with the automatic update option) or manually. Scanning periodically will help keep any malware from infecting your network. It will also keep your computer running smoothly and eliminate errors that could cause system instability or other problems.
Keep in mind that no attacks should be carried out without proper IT knowledge and experience. Even if someone looks like they know what they are doing, don’t trust them. Hackers often use malicious software to attack systems and collect personal information. By being prepared, you’ll be much better equipped to stop these types of attacks from happening. 360 Cyber is ready to help you if you’re experiencing cyber security attacks. Visit our home page now and get started.