CYBER SECURITY

Hackers, viruses, worms, ransomware and spyware are only a few things that can do harm to your computer, network and in some cases your wallet. It can be scary to know how easily your identity can be stolen, simply by clicking a malicious link from an email. Although there are numerous ways in which a computer user can be attacked or exploited, there are also many ways you can protect yourself and your company from cyber threats.

Below is a list of ten cyber security basics to protect your computer network from viruses and cyber-attacks.

1. Require employees to use strong passwords and change them periodically: Creating a strong computer password is perhaps the easiest thing do to enhance the security of your system. A user needs to set up a complex password, which uses special characters such as “#@!*&” as well as letters and numbers. A strong password should also be between 8-15 characters long. Passwords should never be written down and stored near or under your device. Updating your computer password periodically will help in preventing brute force password cracks. A brute force attack is a trial and error method where an application program attempts to decode a person’s computer password. The brute force application generates a large amount of passwords in order to find the right one and gain access to a target’s computer. The stronger a user’s password is, the harder it is for a hacker to potentially crack it. It is generally a good practice to update your passwords about every 90 days.