How can you protect yourself and your computer data from cyber attacks or hackers
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Keeping your computer secure helps you avoid malware and direct hacking attempts designed to steal your personal information. Here are some ways you can help reduce your online risk when you use your computer at home.
Tips to protect your computer
Protect your personal information onlineYour privacy on the internet depends on your ability to control both the amount of personal information that you provide and who has access to that information. Find out how to protect your privacy on the internet. Protect yourself from scamsWhen you read email, use social media, or browse the web, you should be wary of scams that try to steal your personal information (also known as identity theft), your money, or both. Many of these scams are known as "phishing scams" because they "fish" for your information. Find out how to protect yourself from phishing scams and avoid tech support scams. Prevent and remove malwareOne important step toward greater workplace security is to protect your computer against malware. Windows SecurityWindows Security (or Windows Defender Security Center in Windows 8 or early versions of Windows 10) is built in to Windows and provides real-time malware detection, prevention, and removal with cloud-delivered protection. It is intended for home, small business, and enterprise customers. For more info, see Help protect my computer with Windows Security. Other ways to remove malwareTo assist all Windows customers, including those who are not running Windows Security, Microsoft provides Microsoft Defender Offline. Microsoft Defender OfflineMicrosoft Defender Offline runs outside of Windows to remove rootkits and other threats that hide from the Windows operating system. This tool uses a small, separate operating environment, where evasive threats are unable to hide from antimalware scanners. With Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft Defender Offline is built in to the operating system and can run from Windows Security. It is provided as a separate download for previous versions of Windows. Learn more about Microsoft Defender Offline Need more help?Improve Article Save Article Improve Article Save Article The internet has seen a massive rise in usage over the last decade. Thanks to smartphones and highly efficient yet cost-effective computers. Another reason is the hardworking developer community that has made development and use of the software more and more easy with the requirement of lesser and lesser technical sophistication. The capabilities of software programs have also enhanced exponentially. The need for distributed computing and connectivity to the world for staying updated on current trends is the reason for businesses to increase their online presence. Some of these businesses are completely online with no offline element in their service or product. With all the emphasis on usability, an aspect has been mostly ignored since it has been a hurdle in usability. The security of online assets is a factor that was getting less attention than it deserved until the last four years. Cybercrimes were not that frequent before 2013. The rise in internet usage has resulted in rise of cybercrimes. The rise in cyber crimes resulted in an increased awareness of the importance of cybersecurity. But, a single successful attack can be enough to cause a loss of multi-billion dollars. Companies know it and hence are working towards making their products safer. However, you as an end-user can not fully rely on the security measures taken by the companies that sell you the products you use. There are a lot of ways you can commit mistakes and render all the security measures futile. But there are certain habits which when developed can be of great benefit to the internet security of an average user. These habits are simple practices that are easy to adaptable.How to Protect Yourself?1. Use an Internet Security Suite: If you know anything at all about a computer and the internet, the chances are very high that you might be using an antivirus already (And if not then do not take the risk unless you are seasoned cybersecurity professional with data backups in place). An antivirus program combined with an internet security program set helps you in:
2. Use Strong Passwords: This can’t be emphasized enough. If you have “qwerty123” as your bank’s password and a lot of money in the account, you must be ready for a surprise transaction. You should not fully rely on the rate-limiting measures used by websites that you visit. Your password should be strong enough to be practically unbreakable. A strong password is one that is 12+ characters long and contains a diverse use of alphabets(both cases), numbers and symbols (and spaces). Setting a really unbreakable password should not be difficult specially when there are help available as random password generators. You can use this one or this one. 3. Keep Your Software Up-to-Date: Despite the developer’s best intention to create secure software and thorough reviews from the security teams, there are unfortunately many zero-days that are revealed once the software is being used by a large user base. Companies are well aware of this fact and that is why they release frequent updates to patch these vulnerabilities. This is the reason why those updates, however annoying they may be, are important. They help in preventing attacks that can easily skip the radar of the antivirus programs on your computer. 4. Avoid Identity Theft: Identity theft is when someone else uses your personal information to impersonate you on any platform to gain benefits in your name while the bills are addressed for you. It’s just an example, identity theft can cause you to damage more serious than financial losses. The most common reason for identity theft is improper management of sensitive personal data. There are some things to be avoided when dealing with personally identifiable data:
5. Take appropriate actions if you have been a Victim: There are few things that should be done as soon as you realize you have been hacked:
Note: If you are serious about your online security and privacy then there are some websites that you may follow:
How will you protect yourself from cyber attacks?Protect Yourself Against Cyberattacks
Limit the personal information you share online. Change privacy settings and do not use location features. Keep software applications and operating systems up-to-date. Create strong passwords by using upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.
What are 3 ways you can avoid attacks on your computer?Tips to protect your computer. Use a firewall. ... . Keep all software up to date. ... . Use antivirus software and keep it current. ... . Make sure your passwords are well-chosen and protected. ... . Don't open suspicious attachments or click unusual links in messages. ... . Browse the web safely. ... . Stay away from pirated material.. What are some ways one can protect themselves from cyber attacks at least 5 solutions?5 easy tips to protect yourself - today. Check if you've already been involved in a data breach. Visit haveibeenpwned.com and change those passwords for any accounts that it suggests may have been compromised.. Check the strength of your passwords. ... . Avoid these passwords. ... . Trust no one (on emails) ... . Secure your device.. |