3 Things you can do today to beef up your online security
Why do I need to make my online experience more complex?
The need for online and digital security is real. Online threats are increasing. I’m not fearmongering, just look at the list of high value targets already hit: Target.[1] PlayStation.[2] US Customs and Border Protection. Microsoft. CapitalOne.[3] Equifax.[4] (Don’t sue me big companies, I’m just reporting facts.) These companies lost millions of their customers personal information, social security numbers, credit cards, addresses, license plates, and other personal information. This information is out there permanently. These companies lost millions but make many billions more; the cost to you could be much more impactful. In fact you have probably already been compromised to some extent. Did you get a letter from Equifax about your Social Security number being exposed? Or Target?
And now, conflicts in Europe are making real the possibility of targeted attacks in the West.
How do you better secure yourself?
Well, do you lock the doors at night? Will it stop all break-ins? Maybe not, but it will definitively deter would be thieves. How about a home security system and signs in the yard? Yeah, that would help a bit more. Armed security guards? Well, that might be overkill and too costly, might even cost more than the valuables you are protecting (except your family of course.) So, let’s talk about the middle ground, stepping up to the next level of online security, like installing a home security system.
When using online services for personal or business, the most important way to secure your computers, phones and accounts is through strong passwords. But that is just locking the front door. What else can you do?
There are many things you can do, and they have varying impact on your online security. I’ve picked out the 3 strongest plays for your online security. These are basic steps that most people, even less the technologically inclined can implement today.
The three best ways to secure your personal and business life around your devices and accounts:
Maintain Secure Passwords with a Password Manager
Enable Second Factor or Multi Factor Authentication (2FA/MFA)
Maintain Secure backups
Nothing is perfect, and these can’t protect you from every attack, but they will deter most attacks and put you in a good position to recover if you are attacked.
Notice I didn’t include Anti-Virus, this is important, but it isn’t the golden shield it used to be. Windows has a great Anti-Virus included, and Macs MUST have Anti-virus. Windows can benefit from some additional protection too, but I wouldn’t insist on additional protection right away.
In the next three upcoming articles, I’m going got go into depth why these three things are critical to your security.
Want to get started today? Let’s start with Password Managers. I use and recommend 1Password.
Bonus recommendations
Run your updates
I’m going to get a lot of pushback for this one, but hear me out. We’ve all run Windows, iOS or Android updates and then ended up with a new annoying or even show shopping bugs. But how many times have you run updates, and nothing happened? The security vulnerabilities they fix prevent far more problems than you realize. That’s the beauty of technology. You never know it is working right until it isn’t.
Install your updates. Maybe wait a week or even a month first, but do it. You’ll be grateful, even if you don’t know when it actually protects you.
More?
Get Norton LifeLock or another identify protection service.
Use a VPN.
Upcoming articles
There are several articles coming up in the future. I’ll be going to go over additional strategies that help everyday people secure their life and help limit their exposure to hacks and random attacks.
How to use 1Password
How to set up Backblaze backups
Second Factor Authentication (text messages) are annoying. Why should I turn it on?
Wearing protection
How online security is like Kung Fu
Windows 10 and Windows 11 are the most secure operating systems ever. Don’t use Windows 8,7 or earlier unless you have an actual business need.
VPNs
Establishing your web presence – even if you aren’t doing a lot of online marketing (you aren’t doing online marketing?)
What is DMARC and why does it matter?
References
[1] Massive Target Hack Traced Back To Phishing Email | HuffPost Impact
[2] 2011 PlayStation Network outage - Wikipedia
[3] Biggest Hacks and Data Breaches of 2019: Capital One, WhatsApp, iPhone (businessinsider.com)