20 Personal Cybersecurity Tips

Social media can do wonders for you as an individual, as well as if you are running your own online business. It can help you build a loyal following, spread word and awareness about your brand, and reach out to other like-minded people, as well as customers. And the best about it is that it’s incredibly easy to do, since everyone you are looking for is already there.

However, because the power of social media is so easy to utilize, most people let their guard down when it comes to cybersecurity, which can come back to haunt them at some point in the future, in a number of different ways. In order to avoid that, let’s take a look at 20 ways in which you can prevent a cybersecurity issue on social media sites.

Cybersecurity Tip #1 — If You’re Online, You’re At Risk — If you have money (doesn’t matter how much), data (usernames, passwords, documents, emails, etc.) or a place to work, you’re going to be targeted.

Cybersecurity Tip #2 — Shop Online Safely –

• Always use trusted (private) networks
• Use strong passwords
• Don’t shop on shady websites
• Never save credit card to an account
• Verify your transactions weekly to look out for suspicious activity

Cybersecurity Tip #3 — When In Doubt, Don’t Plug It In — Never use a USB flash drive from an unknown source. External media can be infected with malware.

Cybersecurity Tip #4 — If There’s 2FA, Use It — Use two-factor authentication everywhere you can. it’s one of the simplest and most effective security layers you can employ.

Cybersecurity Tip #5 — Lock Up Your Device — Never leave your laptop, smartphone, or tablet unlocked.

Cybersecurity Tip #6 — Trace Your Steps –

• Make a list of your online accounts
• Set strong passwords for all of them
• Delete the accounts you haven’t used in the past 6 months

Cybersecurity Tip #7 — Keep Everything Updated — Always keep your operating system and applications up to date. Updated often patch security vulnerabilities.

Cybersecurity Tip #8 — Don’t Overshare On Social –

• Remember that nothing posted in public forum is ever truly private
• Think about what is being posted and who can take advantage of these posts

Cybersecurity Tip #9 — Keep It Clean — Never install software or apps from shady sites. Stick to trusted sources and approved app stores.

Cybersecurity Tip #10 — Avoid Bad Neighbors — Torrent sites? Adult sites? Yeah. They’re often loaded with malware.

Cybersecurity Tip #11 — Check Before You Click — Never click links in an email until you’ve verified their legitimacy.

Cybersecurity Tip #12 — Watch For Red Flags — A few common ways to scam people through email or SMS:

• Free Offers
• Creating Urgency
• Shocking “News”

Cybersecurity Tip #13 — Don’t Wait Until It Happens — A lot of people wait until they become a victim of cyberattack before taking the risk seriously. Don’t be one of them.

Cybersecurity Tip #14 — Trust No One — Cliché? A little, but it’s really good advice when you’re talking about the internet.

Cybersecurity Tip #15 — Cover Your Webcam — Any camera that’s connected to the internet can be hacked, and yes, it’s actually -really- easy to do.

Cybersecurity Tip #16 — Stop Checking In On Your Phone — Real-time check-ins give anyone who’s online detailed information about your location, habits, and vulnerabilities.

Cybersecurity Tip #17 — Remove Geotags From Your Images And Posts — Even if you don’t think you need hide your location from anyone now, that might not always be the case. Someone with malicious intent could easily track you or find your home address by looking through your public images.

Cybersecurity Tip #18 — Paid Antivirus Is Worth It — Get protection for your connection. Free antiviruses work, but paid solutions are well worth the investment. (Don’t forget to add antivirus to your mobile devices, too!)

Cybersecurity Tip #19 — Look For The “S”… — …In “https://”, that is. This denotes a secured website, and you should only input important data into secured websites.

Cybersecurity Tip #20 — Use Multiple Email Accounts — It’s wise to have a “throwaway” account for social media that’s separate from the email you use for things like banking. This limits the potential access that hackers will gain with a single breach.

At mPowered IT, we have the experience and solutions needed to keep you safe through this year’s challenges and beyond. To learn more reach out to us at 678–389–6200 or schedule a free zero obligation consultation here.