Last year, President Joe Biden signed two cybersecurity bills to strengthen the system and offer solid defenses against hackers and cyberattacks. In the past few years, cybersecurity has seen threats of all kinds, where sensitive information on individual and significant levels has been compromised.

With the advancement in technology, such threats have also increased quite significantly. And to fight these attacks, you have to know a certain way through which you can protect yourself.

This article will share 7 crucial cybersecurity tips to help you keep your online life safe and protect your data to the maximum.

So, without much further ado, let’s get started.

Subscribe to a Trusted Internet Service Provider (ISP)

The first step you need to take is to make sure you have a subscription to a reliable ISP. Several providers in the market advertise security and reliability; however, not all of them are known for it. Therefore, do your proper research before signing up with an internet connection.

In this regard, providers like CenturyLink take great pride in offering the utmost security to their subscribers. It has multiple tiers of internet plans, and you can choose one that suits you the best. For information, you can contact CenturyLink customer service and talk to the sales agents directly about any of your concerns.

Use Strong Passwords

Although it might seem like a pretty basic tip, you would be amazed to know how many people use easy-to-hack passwords. Using a complex password is a prerequisite for protecting yourself from malicious activities.

For this, you can use online generators like lastpass.com to help you develop a strong password or keep the following pointers in mind while creating one for yourself.
  • It should contain 12 characters.
  • Combination of alphanumeric characters and special characters
  • It must be unique and not related to you in any way.
By incorporating these factors, you can create a unique password, which will be difficult to intercept.
Implement Two-factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication is an extra layer that protects you from getting hacked or becoming vulnerable to online criminals. It requires you to provide two forms of identification to access your account.

Using this, you can reduce the risks of unauthorized access to your account.

Avoid Clicking on Shady Links

Did you get an email with a message that said, “Click on this link and win a ticket to Hawaii”? Were you tempted to click on it? Congratulations; you saved yourself from getting hacked and stealing your data if you didn't.

Clicking on shady links or even on emails that have such links can put your information in jeopardy. They install viruses on your devices which are used to steal all the data. So, always remember:
  • Never open an email from an unknown email address.
  • Never click on shady URLs
  • Use the hovering cursor to see where it takes you.
  • Never click on attachments received from unknown email addresses.

Use Security Suite

We assume you already have a security suite or an antivirus installed on your systems; however, if not, pause reading this article and immediately install one. Going online and not using an antivirus is the worst damage you can do to your system.

If you need recommendations, then go for any of these:
  • Norton AntiVirus
  • AVG
  • Bitdefender
  • McAfee

Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

A VPN or Virtual Private Network encrypts all the traffic other than your own device until it reaches the last destination. Enabling one can prevent hackers from attempting to intercept your laptop or mobile phone and stealing your data.

This is particularly recommended to those people who frequently use public WiFi. Although we don’t encourage accessing one, if the need arises, ensure you have a VPN enabled on all your devices.

Visit Authentic Websites

Accessing inauthentic and unprotected websites can result in cookies and unwanted viruses installed on your systems. They make the devices more vulnerable to cyberattacks and are susceptible to malware.

As a result, you can lose all your data or get stolen by hackers or developers of such sites. These online criminals are known for blackmailing people for ransom money.

This is why ensure you have blocked all third-party cookies and installed ad-blocker extensions so you don’t click on shady websites.

Key Takeaway

Cybersecurity is equally crucial as your personal or home security. Just like you take all the measures to protect yourself from home intruders, you should take every necessary step to protect yourself and your family from cyber criminals. Therefore, follow the tips mentioned above in this article, and don’t take your online security lightly.