Protect Your Personal Information: 5 Cyber Tips from an Expert

Introduction:

Cybersecurity is a growing concern for individuals and businesses alike. The internet has made our lives easier, but it has also exposed us to numerous security risks. Joshua Malott, a cybersecurity expert at ScamROCKET, shares some important tips to help you protect your personal information online.

Using a weak password is like leaving your front door unlocked

First and foremost, Malott emphasizes the importance of strong passwords. "Using a weak password is like leaving your front door unlocked," he warns. "Hackers can easily crack simple passwords and gain access to your accounts." Malott suggests using a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols to create a strong and unique password for each account. He also advises against using the same password for multiple accounts. According to a recent survey by the National Cyber Security Centre, over 23 million people worldwide used '123456' as their password. That's a staggering number of people who are putting their personal information at risk.

According to a report by Verizon, 94% of malware attacks are delivered via email. That's why it's important to be cautious of any unsolicited emails or links, and to always verify the sender before clicking on anything.

Another important tip is to be wary of phishing scams. "Phishing is a tactic used by scammers to trick you into revealing your personal information," says Malott. "They will often send you an email or text message that appears to be from a legitimate source, like your bank or a government agency." Malott advises never to click on links or download attachments from suspicious emails or texts. Instead, go directly to the source by typing in the website's URL yourself or calling the organization directly to verify the legitimacy of the message. "If you are a ScamROCKET customer, you've already won most of the battles you will face, simply forward the email to the ingestion point provided to you in the customer dashboard and we will do the verification for you"

Malott also stresses the importance of keeping your software up-to-date. "Software updates often contain security patches that fix vulnerabilities in the system," he explains. "By keeping your software updated, you can prevent hackers from exploiting these vulnerabilities and accessing your personal information." Malott suggests turning on automatic updates for your operating system, web browser, and other software applications.

Professionals suggest avoiding public Wi-Fi altogether when possible, but if you must use it, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet traffic and protect your privacy.

Another tip is to be cautious when using public Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured, making it easy for hackers to intercept your internet traffic and steal your personal information. Professionals suggest avoiding public Wi-Fi altogether when possible, but if you must use it, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet traffic and protect your privacy.

"Posting personal information like your full name, birthdate, and home address on social media can make it easy for scammers to steal your identity,"

Lastly, Malott advises against oversharing on social media. "Posting personal information like your full name, birthdate, and home address on social media can make it easy for scammers to steal your identity," he says. Malott suggests being mindful of the information you share on social media and adjusting your privacy settings to control who can see your posts.

In conclusion, cybersecurity is an ongoing battle that requires vigilance and awareness. By following these tips from Joshua Malott, you can minimize your risk of falling victim to cyber attacks and protect your personal information online.

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Sources:

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/most-hacked-passwords-revealed-as-uk-cyber-survey-exposes-gaps-in-online-security

https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/

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