The Top 10 Cybersecurity Hygiene Habits (Updated 2024)

By Adam Lori | Last Upload on Feb 8th 2023 | Home → Protection → The Top 10 Cybersecurity Hygiene Habits

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Step 1: Install a Reliable Antivirus and Malware Program.

One of the most, if not THE most important step, is installing antivirus software. Antivirus software helps protect your computer against viruses and other malicious software, or malware. This program is vital in protection against security breaches along with other online threats.

Step 2: Update your Network Firewalls

Using a firewall to secure your network is one of the most effective methods to protect against cyber-criminals. A firewall is a security system that helps protect your computer or network by blocking unauthorized access.

Firewalls can be either hardware-based or software-based, and they are usually deployed as part of a layered security approach. When configuring your firewall, it is important to take into account the types of threats you are facing and tailor the security accordingly.

Step 3: Update Software & Apps Regularly

Keep your apps, web browsers, and operating systems up-to-date to avoid any possible glitches by regularly checking for updates and installing them. Turning on the automatic update feature will help you maintain optimal security.

These updates are particularly important because they often include software patches.

Software developers issue security patches whenever they discover software flaws — flaws that could let in viruses or hackers. Developers may not always alert you when a critical patch has been implemented, because this might give hackers the heads-up, as well. Thus, regular updates will ensure these patches plug any holes in your software.

Step 4: Use A Password Manager & Create Strong Passwords

The most effective method of keeping your passwords secure is to make them long. According to research, even the most basic brute force attack has been shown to be ineffective against character complexity. Make your passwords at least 12 characters long. It’s also a good idea to avoid using the same password across numerous platforms.

If you find it difficult to remember multiple passwords, consider using a password manager. This software safely stores all of your passwords in an encrypted format and can generate complex passwords for you. Many password managers will also alert you if your password has been compromised in a data breach.

Identity theft is a very real threat, so it’s important to keep your personal information as private. Setting strong passwords for all of your devices is essential. Your passwords should be unique and complex, containing at least 12 characters along with numbers, symbols, and capital and lowercase letters. Changing your passwords regularly — and never sharing or reusing the same password — will help prevent hackers from figuring them out.

What is Brute Force Attack?

A brute force attack is a trial-and-error method used to obtain information such as a user password or personal identification number (PIN). In a brute force attack, automated software is used to generate a large number of consecutive guesses as to the value of the desired data.

 

Step 5: Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that can be used to protect online accounts. When logging in, users are prompted for not only a password but also another form of identification from a list of possibilities that usually includes something the user

This can be enough for some systems, but multi-factor authentication is better because it uses things like fingerprint recognition or facial recognition to keep people from getting into your stuff if they try to hack into your device.

Step 5: Use a VPN

A VPN, or virtual private network, is a security measure that encrypts your internet connection, making it harder for cyber criminals to access your personal information. A VPN can also help prevent your ISP from tracking your online activity and sell this data to advertisers.

When choosing a VPN, make sure it’s a reputable one that doesn’t keep logs of user activity. You should also ensure the VPN uses strong encryption methods, like AES 256-bit encryption.

Step 7: Back Up Regularly

Keeping your files safe is another key step in preserving digital records. It’s also a good idea to back up essential data, either on an external hard drive or in the cloud, to safeguard against data loss in case hackers gain access to one of your devices.

Step 8: Maintain A Clean hard Drive

It’s important to perform regular maintenance on your device to ensure that no sensitive information or unwanted cookies are stored on your hard drive. You can clean your hard drive manually or use security software with built-in security tools to do it for you.

Not only should you delete files or data, but also reformat and wipe your hard drive clean as part of good cyber hygiene. For example, if you get rid of your computer after using it for online banking tasks, disk-wipe it to eliminate any software and data from the device.

Step 9: Secure Your Router

Make sure to protect your wireless network. This means turning off the default name and password that the router came with and turning off remote management. Log out as administrator once it’s set up, too. Additionally, make sure your router offers WPA2 or WPA3 encryption for the highest level of privacy for information sent through your network.

Step 10: Employ Device Encryption on All Important Devices

You should encrypt your devices and other media that contain sensitive data. This includes laptops, tablets, smartphones, removable drives, backup tapes, and cloud storage. Encryption processes are usually automatic for companies, but it’s a good idea to do it yourself too.In fact, many devices use encryption as the default for data stored on smartphones. Some apps are using end-to-end encryption, and other services encrypt data on your devices and back them up in the cloud. Another option is to use an encrypted USB memory stick for protecting sensitive data.