5 Cybersecurity Skills Everyone Should Have

The internet has become a space filled with malicious viruses, links, and Trojans. Data breaches are becoming more and more frequent, and users are more vulnerable than ever before. With all possible threats in the air,  it is highly recommended that people learn some basic cybersecurity skills to protect themselves from these ruthless attacks.

Cybercrime is the most dangerous attack a company or an individual can face in the 21st century. There are multiple cases where these attacks brought massive losses to companies and individuals due to the data hack.

Some of the main cybersecurity threats and trends for the following years are :

1. Ransomware attacks
2. Phishing attacks
3. Cryptojacking

When you consider the extreme growth of cyberthreats to consumers and businesses, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed. However, all is not lost.

While the cybersecurity industry is fighting every day to protect people and companies by keeping sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands, it would be much easier if people were to stand alongside the industry in this battle. How? By learning some basic cybersecurity skills.

Cybercrime obviously shows no signs of slowing down. That is why it’s so important not just to be aware of it but take time to educate yourself, if not for the greater good in society, then for your own protection.

Keeping up to date, being cautious, proactive, informed, and using a VPN from VPN providers like Le VPN all go hand-in-hand with maximizing your security when surfing online.

#1 The Magnitude of a Good Antivirus Software

A system without an antivirus is the same as a house with an open door – unprotected. You wouldn’t want strangers entering your home and invading your privacy, right? The same applies to the online world. So essentially, what you are doing when not having a good antivirus installed is you are unintentionally inviting all the viruses to your system.

A good quality antivirus software is designed in a way to detect, prevent and take action against malicious software in your device. Antivirus software basically runs in the back, checks every file you open, and compares it to dangerous viruses. In that way, it helps you prevent your device from becoming infected.

The question you may be asking yourself right now is whether or not you can get the protection for free. The answer is yes, you can. In general, the main difference between the free and paid versions of antivirus software is that the paid version has more advanced features that provide more comprehensive protection. So, it’s only a matter of preferences.

#2 Know the Power of a Good Password

Remembering passwords, especially complicated ones, isn’t fun, which is why so many people end up putting their safety at risk. However, a strong password is one of the key components in winning the battle with hackers.

Look at it in this way—The more complex the password, the lower the risk of getting hacked. Adding a combination of upper-case and lower-case letters, commas, parentheses, symbols, and characters significantly lowers the chances of being cracked.

A very strong password may not solve every security problem out there, but it most certainly provides a frontline defense and firewall to limit the vicious claws of hackers.

Finally, the longer you use the same passwords, the greater the risk of becoming compromised. With that said, if you really care about your safety, you should update all your account and device passwords periodically.

#3 Learn the Importance of Updating Your OS

If there’s one thing we know about hackers, it’s that they love security flaws. With that said, software updates and ensuring your operating system is running the latest version are mandatory for your online safety.

Although some computer software requires you to manually approve and install updates, updating software on your mobile is a lot easier. On the phone, you can select auto-update, which will ensure that your mobile apps stay current.

While cybersecurity is indeed mostly about you, there are other people you need to think about as well. For instance, if your device gets a virus, you could pass it on to your family and friends. This is still another reason why you should keep your software and systems updated.

#4 Know what Information Should Stay Off-line

With cloud storage becoming more flexible, available, and convenient, it’s easy to get carried away and put all sensitive data out there. First, however, you need to learn to distinguish what information should stay off-line no matter what.

Believe it or not, some people store vital information like medical files, personally identifiable data, and tax information in the cloud. As you may already know, cloud services ultimately put your data in the hands of other people.

With that being said, if you are a particularly skeptical and overly protective person when it comes to your privacy, don’t put sensitive information on the cloud. It’s that simple.

#5 The Magic of Activating a VPN

The aim of a VPN is to hide your online activity, which is exactly what you want to achieve in this case. VPNs from VPN providers like le VPN are often used to guard against hacks on public networks, but they are also handy for hiding your personal data and IP address even at home.

Finally, keep in mind that malicious actors are changing rapidly, and viruses are becoming stronger by the year. With each passing day, criminals are getting more sophisticated; therefore, connecting to a VPN is an essential step to keeping your network traffic encrypted.