CYBERCRIME is a massive problem. Cybersecurity Ventures’ latest annual report estimates that cybercrime will cost the world US$10.5 trillion annually by 2025. That staggering figure takes into account a multitude of factors, including stolen mon2ey, lost productivity, restoration, and the deletion of hacked data and systems. The victims of cybercrime involve individuals, organizations, and businesses alike — virtually everyone from all walks of life.

There are ways to protect yourself from cyberattacks. Now check out these cybersecurity secrets hackers don’t want you to know.

Avoid websites with an “http” URL

Only transmit personal data on websites that are https. The ‘s’ indicates a higher level of security. Nowadays, all the reputable e-commerce sites are https — including Amazon, Walmart, JD and Tmall, plus the major airlines, banks, car rentals, hospitals, social services, and hotel chains. Most scam sites, however, are http (no ‘s’ at the end), because http sites are cheaper than https sites.

Only use trusted apps

Phone users can risk exposure to viruses, malware and other online threats in many ways. Always use trusted app providers from trusted sources such as the App Store. Jailbreaking your phone is one of the biggest risks to malware and other potentially dangerous viruses.

Don’t use debit cards for online purchases

If you’re the victim of fraud, a debit card offers scant protection. Credit cards protect you far more comprehensively and provide you with an extra layer of security. So use a credit card as a precautionary measure. This way, if you are victimized, your recovery will be faster. Don’t save credit card information on sites where you purchase something. And open a separate credit card specifically for online transactions.

Lock out lost devices

If a mobile device is lost — laptop, USB drive, smartphone, etc. — and it has company data on it, report to your IT department immediately so user accounts can be disabled and/or monitored for suspicious activity and devices can be locked out of the network.

Protect your passwords

Protect passwords and change default passwords when applicable. Use password-protected Excel documents to track usernames and passwords. The current version of Excel has strong encryption that’s almost impossible to break. Make sure access to the file is protected by a strong password.

Don’t click on unknown links

Never click on links in emails. Phishing emails are incredibly successful at impersonating sites you trust, and they appear much more legitimate than in the past. Visit the source website of the email before proceeding with the requested action.

Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi

Hackers are able to exploit users of public Wi-Fi through intercepting the traffic as it passes over the network, or hackers will set up fake “honeypot” Wi-Fi access points in order to trick users into connecting. Turn your smartphone into a mobile hotspot if you need to use Wi-Fi on another device.

Update your security software regularly

You should have antivirus software on your phone, laptop, and other devices to keep them safe.

However, these programs can only protect you from the threats they know about. Companies will add new protections to their software as emerging cyber threats are identified. If you don’t keep your software up-to-date, you won’t be protected from the latest threats.

Come up with creative answers to security questions

Set up difficult security questions to avoid having someone find the answers online. Get a little more creative with the answers, and never share this data with anyone.

(SD-Agencies)