In the present, it seems like everybody is getting hacked. There are thousands of successful cyber attacks per year and countless attempts. It is quite a difficult task to fully protect yourself from hacking; however, you can help prevent it from happening.
Cybercriminals now have great access to sensitive information, including names, social security number, birth dates, addresses, and the numbers of some driver’s license. In 2017, the healthcare industry faced twice the number of cyber attacks than any other industry. There were astonishingly 32,000 intrusions in a day, it even surpassed the finance industry in terms of vulnerability. Surprisingly, despite this alarming state, the industry still ranks fifteenth on the security scoreboard. The role of companies offering cyber-security services is increasing.
Most businesses large and small rely on the internet to track their financials, order and maintain inventory, conduct marketing, PR campaigns, connect with clients, engage in social media, and perform other critical operations. Yet, with startling frequency, we hear about massive levels of system breaches in even top-notch companies. Small businesses are responsible for preventing these wide-spreading crimes from harming company property and stealing consumer information.
Top Ways to Protect System from Hackers
There are many preventive steps you can take to prevent hackers from being successful at using important information to compromise your identity and safety. Some of the chief ones are:
● Effective Use of Firewall
The two major computer operating systems have built-in firewalls, software designed to formulate an obstacle between your information and the outside world. This is where the role of firewall creeps in, it prevents unauthorized access to your business network and alerts you of any attempts of intrusion made.
The first thing to do with a new computer is to make sure that you have enabled the firewall before you go online. However, you can also buy a hardware firewall from renowned companies like Cisco, or Fortinet, depending upon the nature of the broadband router you have installed, which also has a built-in firewall that protects your network. If you have a larger business, you can purchase an additional business networking firewall.
● Complex Passwords
One of the most common, yet effective way of securing networks is the implication of strong credentials. Using secure passwords is perhaps an extremely important way to prevent illegal intrusions onto your computer network. It is believed that more secure your passwords; the harder it is for a hacker to invade the system.
There has been a wide difference of opinion on the formulation of credentials. Some experts believe, long and complex passwords are better ones, while other believes short and unique passwords are the way to go and counter the hackers.
It is highly recommended not to use recognizable words or combinations that represent birthdays or other information that can be in anyway linked to you. Also, re-using the passwords is a bad option.
● Avoid Using Correct Answer for Security Questions
When making security questions, don’t make the answers to them correct one. Hackers are quite professional, they do a lot of homework about you and your family and they can easily find out your mother’s name. Therefore, make the wrong name to deceive the hackers.
It is a good idea to make the answers incorrect, even better, makes them like passwords, and don’t base the answers on the questions at all.
For example, for the security question “What is your mother’s maiden name?”, make the answer something like “Apple”.
Also, you might want to write down the answers to your questions and keep them safe somewhere.
The Bottom Line
The internet thieves have been quite innovative in breaking the window of security. The responsibility lies on us to be more creative than them, and keep figuring out new ways of countering the hackers. An ideal combination of hardware and software defenses, along with best computing services, will be a hindrance between you and online predators. Consulting firms who offer cyber-security services is also a good way of dealing with this situation.
