The rise of cybercrime and online privacy has grown significantly in recent years, with many people worried about their personal data being stolen. In 2016, there was a massive leak of sensitive information from major corporations like Target and Sony. The government and industry have been trying to find solutions, but there seems to be a lack of consensus.
In this article, I'll discuss some of the reasons why cybersecurity is important, and how it affects our daily lives. You may not realize the importance of these topics until it happens to you.
Steps to take
In order to protect yourself online, there are several steps you should take. The first step is to avoid being hacked or targeted by malware.
The main reason hackers target individuals is to steal money or information. By securing your accounts and personal information, you can avoid losing any of that money or information.
The second step is to use a secure web browser. There's no point in having an anti-virus program if you use a browser like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Most browsers these days will automatically block ads and trackers, but you may still need to check your browser settings to make sure you don't have any extensions installed that you didn't intend to install.
Finally, you should make sure you aren't giving away too much information. While some sites may require a login, most allow you to use your Facebook credentials or other information without creating an account. This is fine if you don't post sensitive information on your timeline, but you should consider setting up a separate email address for your business.
As a side note, if you aren't already doing so, you should be using a VPN to mask your IP address. While it isn't mandatory for your online security, it's worth considering whether you are at risk for any malicious activity.