{"id":86,"date":"2020-10-13T19:29:54","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T19:29:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patrons.com\/blog\/?p=86"},"modified":"2023-11-07T16:06:21","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T16:06:21","slug":"guide-to-personal-cybersecurity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patrons.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/13\/guide-to-personal-cybersecurity\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide To Personal Cybersecurity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cybersecurity attacks result in millions of dollars in damages each year, affecting individuals and businesses alike. <\/span>Experts predict that an attack happens every 39 seconds resulting in an average of 2,244 hacks daily<\/span><\/a>. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, that number has risen to roughly <\/span>4,000 hacks per day<\/span><\/a> and may continue to rise as we approach the holiday season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A cyber attack can be detrimental to your personal finances or your business. Luckily, there are many precautions you can take to help ensure your information is safe \u2014 and if you know how to handle one if it does happen, you may even be able to prevent a devastating loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To help you be more cyber aware, here are a few key things you need to know about cybersecurity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who is Susceptible to a Cyberattack<\/b><\/p>\n

No one is safe from experiencing a cyberattack unless you have never used an electronic device or given your information to someone who is using one. Any time you connect to Wi-Fi, enter your password on a website, make an online purchase, or give your information to a company, you\u2019re opening yourself up to the risk of an attack.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To give you a better idea of your odds, researchers have found that <\/span>1 in 4 people are likely to experience some type of cyber attack in their lifetime<\/span><\/a>. In comparison, your odds of experiencing a home burglary are 1 in 50 and your odds of experiencing a tax audit are 1 in 100. The likelihood that you will experience a cyberattack is far greater than any other type of personal invasion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Protect Your Information<\/b><\/p>\n

The key to keeping your data safe is taking all the precautions to protect it. Here are a few tips to help you do that:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Keep your software up to date on your computer and your mobile device. New updates remove critical vulnerabilities that hackers have found to steal your information.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Use anti-virus protection and firewall to help fight attacks.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Choose strong passwords and update them often.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Adopt a two-factor authentication when logging into programs with sensitive information.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Only connect to secure Wi-Fi and don\u2019t allow others to connect to your personal network.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Be aware of phishing scams and think twice before opening a suspicious email.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Never give your personal information over the phone or email to an unknown person.<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Back up your data often and keep it in multiple places \u2014 for example, your iCloud and an external drive.<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Review your online accounts and credit reports often and immediately report any suspicious activity.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Common Types of Security Breaches<\/b><\/p>\n

    Now that you know how to help prevent an attack, it\u2019s important to know what to look out for. Hackers get smarter every day and are coming up with new ways to access and steal your information. Sometimes, even human error can lead to a hack but with education and awareness, you can help reduce your risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n