Protecting an information technology infrastructure from the ever-growing cyber attacks and threats is quite a challenging job. Everyday, hackers try to discover new ways to hack into our systems in order to steal sensitive information.
Lack of information security measures in an organization can put every aspect of Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability components of a company’s Information Security policy at risk, which may result in cyberattacks through ransomware attacks, DOS, malware attacks, information disclosure, etc. All this can go against an organization’s reputation and even cost financial losses. In this blog, we shall discuss a few of the best practices to adopt in our day-to-day activities to assure that we follow a constructive path in preventing cyber attacks.
-A Strong Password is the Ultimate Shield
Never be lazy on choosing a strong password. It must be at least 10 characters long consisting of complex alphanumerics & special characters. Also, keep on changing your passwords at regular intervals. Try to keep different passwords for different websites. Always remember, an easy password can be effortlessly brute forced within seconds by a hacker.
Setting up Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) is also a great counter-measure to ensure that your accounts stay protected from various authentication threats. Nowadays, many people have started using various MFA applications such as Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator, which add an extra layer of security to help them combat password breaches.
–Phishing is So Fishy!
Phishing attacks are often designed to look like legitimate emails, websites, and other digital communications from trusted sources. These attacks can be used to steal passwords, credit card numbers, personal information and other sensitive data. To stay protected from phishing attacks, follow a few basic thumb rules: → Do not open or download files from any untrusted sources.
→ Take some time to analyze the authenticity of links,domain names and the files attached.
→ Install anti-phishing addons on your browser.
→Beware of emails conveying a sense of emergency.
→Learn to differentiate between legitimate and fraudulent emails.
-Keep Your Software Up-to-Date
Keeping your software up-to-date in order to ensure that the security, performance, and compatibility clauses of your company’s information security policy are adhered to is a very crucial practice. We must regularly check for updates by visiting the official website of the software provider. If possible, enable the Automatic Updates option so that no manual intervention is required to install the latest updates. Updating software is not just about getting new features, but also about performing numerous security vulnerability bug fixes that come along with that software update.
-Stay Aware, Stay Safe
As they say, prevention is better than cure, it goes well with information security too. Join an online community that publishes articles, blogs, and latest news regarding the current cyber security trends. Awareness brings understanding and establishes the importance of safeguarding sensitive data from security breaches.
–Use Social Media Wisely
Attackers tend to collect and reconcile your personal data shared on various social media platforms. Always remain careful while sharing any personal information and check if this information can be used against you.
Pictures clicked at your workplace can reveal a lot of things. Do check the pictures for any sensitive data that is not displayed in the background or anywhere else in the frame. Delete unused accounts and review the privacy policies on a regular basis.
In the end, It is always safe to stay alert when it comes to information security. Anyone at any time can become a victim of modern-day cyber attacks. It is our responsibility to keep us updated and aware with the latest safeguards and measures to remain protected over the internet. Hope you find this blog useful !!