How Can You Secure Your PC And Mobile Devices?
Phishing attempts in the UK are 20% higher than global statistics. This is a troubling issue for individuals and businesses. Over the years, data security has become complex and, in some respects, more expensive than it was a decade ago. Indeed, cybercrime continues to evolve, making it important for people to take precautionary measures to secure their PCs and mobile devices. Below is a discussion on keeping up with digital security trends that address this issue.
Activate passwords and encryption on your devices
To prevent unauthorised access to computers, IBM put together a highly-technical group to troubleshoot how to protect clients’ data. In the early 1970s, this group developed the block cypher, which became a standard for all client data protection purposes. Unfortunately, it was cracked in 1997, but that was not the end of the story. Encryption experts used the opportunity to design new and unbreakable cyphers. Over the years, IT specialists improved the data protection features, and today, encryption has become a necessary digital guard for computers and other digital devices. It is the first line of defence that helps fight against unauthorised access on your devices.
It starts with setting up a secure password for your PC and mobile devices. A secure password must be strong and not easy to guess, as some sophisticated hackers have software that breaks weak passwords. When they get hold of your password, they can remotely deactivate encryption on your device. Usually, alphanumeric and symbol combinations work best for these encryption purposes. Encryption mixes up your password combination, making it difficult for hackers to decode. Admittedly, managing passwords on multiple devices can be a challenge. Thankfully, you can use a trusted password manager to organise them all.
Two-factor authentication
The 2FA is an online data protection strategy. It adds an extra protection layer that makes it impossible to break into your devices. Usually, two-factor authentication works by employing a PIN and password. The double verification system can be activated on your PC and mobile devices. However, different phone and computer brands may have specific processes that help you set it up. For instance, Apple and Android users employ different authentication measures and processes. Therefore, remember to access the respective home websites to learn how to set your two-factor authentication up.
Unfortunately, the cygenta.co.uk website says 62% of the UK public has little to no information about two-factor authentication. This increases the risk of an unauthorised person hacking their personal devices easily. On the contrary, with a 2FA, the device can shut out access to a potential hacker until the rightful owner passes the verification stages. You may want to add this to your device protection measures.
Enable theft protocol on your devices
This is the same as data loss protocol. It is an excellent precautionary measure against losing your devices and crucial data. While nobody looks forward to losing their devices, everyone must take matters into their own hands. A theft protocol allows you to remotely access your stolen devices to erase your data or provide enhanced protection. In most cases, people who opt for erasure have data backed up to a trusted third-party server.
On the contrary, if your data is not backed up, you can choose further encryption or follow a strict process to transfer your data. The latter option is only possible if you have a double verification process in place. Statistics indicate that a laptop is stolen every 53 seconds, while mobile devices are lost every ten seconds. Additionally, 325,000 people lost their mobile phones two years ago. Indeed, the statistics are not encouraging and call for renewed personal security measures to protect these devices. The sooner you enable theft protocol on your devices, the better it will be for you.
Update device software when it's available
The main purpose of device software upgrades is to fix bugs, glitches, and other newly-discovered faults in your device’s operating system. Updating them offers an opportunity to improve security issues and resolve compatibility problems with pre-installed programs. It lowers your security vulnerabilities, and your devices are optimised and can last longer. However, a report by the itpro.co.uk site revealed that 40% of the public deliberately overlook software upgrade notifications. And many more do not see the importance. Meanwhile, half the population prefers to see several notifications before carrying out a single software upgrade. The report further stated that a section of the public avoids these software notifications because they doubt the source. Ironically, others attribute the refusal to upgrade to security fears. If you find yourself in any of these categories, it would be best to learn about software upgrades.
The best strategy is to set your computer and mobile devices to automatic updates, ensuring you have enough storage. This would require a WiFi connection on many devices as the updating files are large, and mobile data connections may not suffice. Additionally, it would be best to have ample internal storage before upgrading. The updating process will likely halt until unused files are deleted or moved onto an external disk.
Know how malware works
Sufficient education on malware will go a long way to secure your devices. They are one of the trickiest programs specifically and deliberately designed to cause harm to your systems. Viruses, ransomware, Trojan Horse, worms, and spyware are a few examples of malware to be wary of. How can you detect them on your devices? According to experts, these usually present in the form of system crashes and a change in browser settings not initiated by you.
Other signs are a dramatic slowdown of your devices’ operating systems. Mysterious loss of disk space and increased background internet activity are other signs to be aware of. UK’s malware and ransomware attacks are so high that mitigating measures have been taken on a national level. On a personal level, you can protect your devices by installing antivirus software. You may also want to avoid pirated software that increases your risks of malware infection. Backing up your devices regularly is necessary to avoid losing data if you ever fall victim to malware.
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