Cybercrimes are increasing at an alarming rate. Internet enabled smart devices boost our connectivity but are also highly vulnerable to attacks. Every day, millions of email accounts and passwords are leaked online and even the most secured accounts get compromised.
If you think you haven’t been targetted yet then its time you make sure that it never happens to you.
With only five easy steps, you can make your device hack proof. This will not only protect your personal and financial data but will also protect data of your loved ones who use your device or network.
Hackers not only exploit your bank account details but even your emails, photos, videos, contacts and messages too because there are several ways your digital data can be used against you.
5 Ways to Protect your Device from Cyber Attacks
Hackers are malicious and intrusive but there are severals ways you can make sure that no one gets into your phone without your permission.
1. Start using a VPN
A VPN can protect your device on every network. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) enables you to connect to any internet connection securely. It passes your data through an encrypted channel so that it can be protected from the prying eyes.
That means, even if a hacker is trying to snoop into a public network they won’t be able to see your network traffic because the VPN is masking it. On top of that, a VPN provides more internet freedom as it unblocks region locked websites and content for you.
There are many free and paid VPN plans that you can look into. Free VPN plans, usually come with several restrictions and do not encrypt all of your data. If you are really serious about your online security then I suggest investing in a paid plan. You can find good quality cheap VPNs to protect your device.
2. Keep your OS & apps up to date
Every time the app developers release an update they fix some existing bugs and improve the function. It is important that we update the apps regularly otherwise we will never be able to get rid of the bugs, security holes and it will provide the hackers an opportunity to exploit our phone.
The same goes for updating your operating system. If you see an update for your phone’s operating system then download and install it. That way not only your device will be more secure but will also work more efficiently.
3. Install only verified apps
Do you often download apps and games from third party services? Are you sure you can trust them? Do you check the app permissions of those apps before installing them?
These are some really important questions that you must take a minute to ponder. I would suggest that you download apps only from Play Store and App Store because they have strict security guidelines for approving any app. If you are unable to find an app on the app store then you may download it from a third party website but only if you can trust its security.
Apps are a great way for hackers to insert intrusive codes and virus into your device. They can access your photos, call history via the app permissions and can even get into your financial details.
Another important point is to regularly check your phone for hidden apps. It could be that some apps have got installed in your device without your permission and are running in the background, collecting data. You won’t see them on the app drawer so look for the hidden app and remove them.
4. Password protect cloud storage apps
If you use cloud based storage applications like Dropbox, One Drive, Google Drive, iCloud, etc. then make sure you use strong passwords to protect your account because every day thousands of people get locked out of their own cloud storage account and lose data.
Even better, use biometrics to secure the cloud based apps because even strong passwords get hacked. You can even choose to password protect important files and folders on your system and online accounts.
If you have provided access rights to different individuals on your cloud account then make sure that you use two step verficiation for more sensitive data. Be careful about providing writing and editing privileges to people..
5. Install an antivirus app
An antivirus can ensure overall security of your smartphone. It will keep scanning your device for virus, malware, spyware, adware and other malicious code. Antivirus apps are also programmed to scanning your internet connection and the websites you visit for threats and will block sites and files that are harmful for your device.
A significant number of websites are loaded with malware that target unsecure devices. Your antivirus app will block such sites from downloading files on your phone. It will also protect you from harmful files and links sent via email attachments. Some popular antivirus apps are – Avast, AVG, Norton, McAfee, Avira, Trend Micro antivirus.
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