Boredom is one of the worst things a person has to experience. Now that almost every country is on lockdown or quarantine, people are getting bored out of their minds. Even people who are working in offices and other jobs are forced to stay indoors. To help fight off boredom, a lot of people are resorting to a lot of fun things. From spending time with family to dancing and making funny videos, the list goes on.
But for those who need to make a living, some resort to online jobs while waiting for the pandemic to die out. Whether it’s for jobs or fun, we all have to use devices connected to the internet. Sadly, criminals and the likes of those people take advantage of the current situation by creating numerous scams online.
Due to the growing number of people using their devices and the internet, scammers are crawling out of the woodwork. Criminals are getting more and more aggressive with their methods, and they’re even craftier than before. All it takes is a single swipe, tap, or click for these people to steal personal information and even your funds away from you.
Avoid these scams, and don’t be a statistic. Always be mindful of what you’re clicking or filling up. To help you even more, here are some tips to beef up your cybersecurity system during these trying times.
Update Your Software
You may have the best antivirus program, but if you don’t update it, you’ll be a sitting duck. Not updating programs is one of the most common mistakes that people make. What happens is they install the antivirus and just leave it there. The program will ask permission for updates, but most of the time, people just dismiss it.
Since threats are continually changing, it only fits that your antivirus should be equipped to handle these kinds of risks. Pairing the best antivirus software with the latest updates it offers makes it extremely difficult for viruses, hackers, and malware to penetrate your desktop. Aside from your antivirus programs, you should also update drivers and your firewall. Threats often take advantage of any vulnerabilities they can find in a system.
Avoid Downloading Suspicious Programs
Most of the time, people often look for programs, games, and other stuff on the internet that can help them with their problems. Some find what they are looking for and end up paying for it. Others, however, look for free apps to save up on money.
Although not all files on the internet are harmful, you’re at risk for downloading malicious programs on your home PC. To quote Lt. Aldo Raine from the Inglorious Basterds, when an offer is “too good to be true, it ain’t.” Most of the time, free apps usually carry these harmful programs often disguised within folders and other files that come with the download.
Avoiding Suspicious Websites
In connection with downloading potentially harmful programs, you should look at the source. To spot a potential threat, always look at the source you’re downloading from. Does the website look suspicious? Does it pass security standards?
If you say no to one of these questions, then you’re probably at risk. To check if a website is safe, you can view the website information on the small padlock icon located on the left side of the link on the address bar of your browser.
From there, you can see important details about the website. You can also view what details are being sent to the website, the security certificates, and site settings. Most of the time, browsers such as Google often warn you before connecting to these websites.
Using Strong Passwords
One of the most common yet most overlooked steps in beefing up cybersecurity is using strong passwords. When it comes to passwords, some people often use easy to remember words so they won’t forget it the next time they use it. Sadly, hackers and thieves all know too well what common passwords are.
The most common passwords used are names, important dates such as birthdays and anniversaries, essential places for the person, pet’s names, and so much more. Some people, believe it or not, even use 123456 as a password! And even more terrifying is that people use these passwords for their bank accounts and other important stuff.
When it comes to choosing a password, choose one that you only know. Better yet, you can use a password generator and keep a personal copy of that password with you. Password generators create random mixes of numbers, letters, and other characters to create strong passwords that are almost impossible to break. Regularly updating your passwords can also help with your security.
Sharing Data
Threats can come in all forms and sizes. Most of the time, people often forget that risks exist outside the internet. Some of these threats can be people who you talk to. Believe it, or not experienced criminals can get unsuspecting people to blurt out sensitive data that they can exploit.
Always be careful of who you’re talking to and avoid someone who you might think can pose a danger to you or your family. It always pays to be safe, especially if it’s you or your family that’s at risk.
Aside from avoiding suspicious people, be careful of what you share on social media. Sometimes, online players often purchase stuff and boast about their transactions online. If they’re not careful, they can be broadcasting their banking details to their friends and other people in their network.
Takeaway
It’s no doubt that boredom is hitting everyone nowadays. To kill boredom, people are using their mobile devices and PCs more than ever. Because of that trend, criminals are also ramping up their scams. The tips mentioned above are great ways to avoid such threats. Remember, stay indoors and keep safe both online and offline!
