6 Essential Habits to Improve Personal Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity and privacy standards are increasingly becoming the top preferences for numerous companies. Businesses are working hard to protect their customers’ data and enhance their cybersecurity measures. Companies help their employees understand the perils against personal security online and techniques to better their overall security. While brands and businesses do all they can to assure their end-users’ data protection from their own viewpoint, we too can play our role to safeguard our personal cybersecurity.
Read more: Here Is Why People Started To Distrust The Internet
6 Essential Habits to Improve Personal Cybersecurity
So here we present you 6 of the most crucial, tried, and trusted techniques followed by industry specialists to reduce online jeopardies.
Close Your Unused Accounts
With a lot of ways to stay connected on the web; you might be in the habit of using various social media accounts. And with time, you might have neglected a few of your old accounts. Remember the then-popular MySpace? If you had been aware of it, just make sure your account is inactive.
Or, your last Yahoo login was many years ago; but your account might be still active and running, even if you aren’t using it. But if you’re using the same username and passwords for other websites or services; then any data leak in your old forgotten accounts could be dangerous. These neglected accounts, known as “zombie” accounts, have to be put to an end once and for all. Otherwise, your current credentials or personal data will make its way into the dark web.
Create Passwords that You Can Remember
Most users infrequently change their passwords from time to time, which is a necessity for good security. However, recently every day, secure password habits suggest that by using complicated passwords with a mixture of random letters, numbers, and symbols, you can keep your login data secure. The difficulty with this method is that you cannot remember all the passwords you employ for the 100-odd accounts that you use often.
Although these may be difficult to crack by hackers or a computer; it kills the purpose when you cannot make head and tail of your own credentials, and you get locked out.
So, experts advise that instead of attempting to create a long string of random characters, stick to using letters whenever you can.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication
If you make monetary transactions online, then you’re already aware of how multi-factor authentication works. Even though you log in with your credentials, to validate the transaction you are about to make, you need to enter a code that your bank sends you. The same can be noticed when you try to login into an email service or social networking website from a new device. You can get a notification about this event for the sake of your security.
Making this stronger, numerous online services offer two-factor authentication, and you can use this in day-to-day life like email or accounts that deal with sensitive data. Google and other companies provide standalone Authentication apps to their users’ cybersecurity risk.
Update Your Software And Hardware
Installing anti-malware software apps ensures that you stay safe whenever you are connected. This is imperative as even the top-rated firewall used for your corporate suite might get sidelined by a dangerous phishing attack, or an employee might unknowingly install a corrupted file from an untrusted source and infect all your data.
Malware and ransomware lurk in all sorts of places on the web. The least you could do is to follow stringent practices to protect yourself. Keep your anti-malware programs updated on all your devices to stop hackers from accessing your secure data. Similarly, upgrading to the latest and most reliable devices or updating your hardware is also crucial for data safety.
Secure Data With Biometric Authentication
All the preceding practices can help you a great deal but are not exactly foolproof. That’s because your data may slip out of your hands if you lose your device or someone hacks your account. But when you use biometric authentication, you can be sure of keeping your devices and data safe. Only you will be able to access your data, in your physical presence, and there is not a chance of remotely gaining access. This removes 81 percent chances of data breaches.
As more manufacturers provide biometric authentication technology on their apps and devices, your data protection gets a significant upgrade. Additionally, you can even track any failed authentication attempts and detect who is trying to access your accounts or devices.
Use a VPN
A VPN is the ultimate internet security tool. This robust software encrypts all your data and reroutes your traffic through a secure server in a selected country. When that occurs, your public IP will be cloaked, and you end up obtaining one to match the location of the server you chose.
This way, you’ll guard your device against any possible hacking attempt. Not only that but with a hidden IP address, you’ll surf the web without being spied on. Not even your ISP can keep tags on what you do online. Here’s what you need to do to increase your security with a VPN:
- First, sign up with a credible VPN service provider. I highly recommend NordVPN as it’s one of the tops in the industry.
- Download and install their VPN application on your device. You’ll find clients on major operating systems, including Android, iOS, PC, and Mac.
- Sign in with your account and head over to the server list.
- Pick any server you see fit and hit connect.
- Wait for the connection to take place and use this IP verifier to confirm that your IP has changed.
- You’re now browsing the web anonymously and safely.
Choosing a good VPN can be daunting because there are dozens of VPN providers on the market. In case you’re confused, here’s a list that highlights the best VPN services out there. Check it out and pick one according to your needs.
#1 NordVPN (3.29$/month)
Number of servers: 3500+ | Server locations: 60+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 6
NordVPN is a Panama based VPN service provider. Hence, it is free of the U.S and the European countries jurisdictions. Due to it, the users can enjoy anonymous networking with its No Log Policy. Double encryption, a variety of protocol support, excellent customer support makes it one of the best VPN in the market. Most noteworthy, the pricing plans are quiet on the nominal side and worth the services provided.
- Six simultaneous connections
- A variety of platform support
- Double encryption for added security
- Excellent customer support
- Automatic kill switch
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 3-Day free trial
- Unique selling proposition is that it offers hassle-free installation even for new users
Avail 72% Discount
#2 ExpressVPN (8.32$/month)
Number of servers: 1800+ | Server locations: 148 | IP addresses: 30,000 | Maximum devices supported: 3
ExpressVPN has become the market leader in the VPN industry. With its supreme quality VPN performance during past seven years. Therefore, it attracted and retained millions of users and enhanced customer loyalty. All due to services that are beyond comparison. That is the reason it sits at the top position in our VPN table. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands. Which keeps it away from the Data Retention policies enforced by NSA, GCHQ.
- Unlimited Bandwidth with Ultra Speed
- Dedicated VPN Apps for Android & iOS
- Provides all VPN protocols OpenVPN (TCP, UDP), L2TP-IPsec, SSTP, and PPTP
- High-End Security with OpenVPN 256-bits
- Zero log keeping policy of internet activities
- 30-Days Money-Back Guarantee
- 3 Simultaneous-login Option
- Dedicated VPN App for Router
Avail 35% Discount
#3 Surfshark VPN (2.49$/month)
Number of servers: 500+ | Server locations: 50 | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: Unlimited
Surfshark VPN is ahead of the curve in technological advancement. Surfshark VPN will ensure online privacy for your whole family – simple and intuitive on the outside with a robust security mechanism inside.
- No Logging Policy
- 500 Plus Servers Spread in over 50 Countries
- 24 x 7 Customer Service Support
- P2P Torrenting Support Available
- AES 256-Bit Network Encryption
- Comes with Zero Logging Policy
- Chrome Extension Available
- Kill-Switch functionality
Avail 81% Discount
#4 CyberGhostVPN (2.15$/month)
Number of servers: 6,200+ | Server locations: 87+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 7
CyberGhostVPN was established in 2011 and gained popularity. It is due to its dedication towards providing outstanding and unique security and privacy features. CyberGhostVPN defends privacy as a basic human right, being the first in the industry to publish a transparency report while building new user-oriented crypto-technology for the future.
- 6200+ servers in 87 countries
- Uses AES 256 Encryption
- Up to 7 Simultaneous Connections
- Supports OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and PPTP
- DNS & IP Leak Protection
- No Logging Policy.
- Uses 2048 Key & MD5 Authentication
- 45-Days Money Back Guarantee
- Automatic Wi-Fi security
Avail 83% Discount
#5 Private Internet Access (2.19$/month)
Number of servers: 3339+ | Server locations: 36 | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 5
Private Internet Access service provides you unbeatable internet security and privacy. It is due to its sustainable and specialized security barrier based on several layers. Hence, For an end to end protection with its amazing features. That includes; Anonymous IP, high-grade encryption. That is based on cryptographically secure Blowfish CBC algorithm.
- Zero VPN Traffic Logs
- Encrypted Wi-Fi Protection
- Offers all Protocols PPTP, OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec including SOCKS5 Proxy
- 7-days Money-Back Guarantee
- IPv6 Leak Protection & DNS Leak Protection
- The Internet Kill Switch
- P2P file sharing & VoIP Support
- Support for VPN router including DD-WRT Tomato & PfSense
- Speed Test options for all Servers
Avail 78% Discount
Read more: Protecting Yourself Against Cyberstalking
Conclusion -Habits to Improve Personal Cybersecurity
Pertaining to cybersecurity, it is challenging to differentiate between being paranoid or being cautious. But in this risky climate of potential privacy violations, practicing even the tiniest cybersecurity measures is vital.