The advent of the internet brought the world together. The world is not a global village with billions of people connected to the internet. This large number of users comes with challenges such as cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is a major aspect of technology that many neglects and they often pay heavily for it. The cost of cybersecurity lapses is often high and you do not want to take the chances.
In the last decade, there has been a rise in the use of digital devices, most especially PC and smartphones. An average user has at least 20 apps on his smartphone. These apps use data and personal files on the smartphone, thus exposing the user’s details. Negligence to cybersecurity can lead to data loss, financial loss, and even identity loss. Let us look at some of the cybersecurity mistakes many make without realizing their consequences.
Not Securing their devices
Many people use devices without ensuring to secure them. For instance, someone may set up a new device and skip the option of creating a secure lock or fingerprint lock system. You can enjoy all the phone’s features without the pin lock or fingerprint. But if the phone gets stolen, the thief has unlimited access to your phone. The thief can freely access everything on the phone. You have successfully purchased a phone for the thief. A smart thief can easily format the phone and start using it for free without any hassle. Remember your bank is linked to your phone so the level of exposure is unimaginable. Best put a pin-lock or fingerprint lock to make it a bit harder to access by an intruder.
Using weak passwords
Choosing a password is a very important aspect of using a smartphone or PC. A password is supposed to be a combination that is difficult to guess by an intruder. Using pins like 1234, your date of birth is a very easy guess. It is advisable to create a strong password using a combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. This combination is often difficult to guess and hack. When signing up on online casino, it is important to choose a strong password as well. Never use the same password for different websites. I know it is often difficult to create and remember strong passwords. You can use a password manager to save all your passwords.
Not Using a 2-factor authentication (2FA)
Using a 2-factor authentication is an added layer of protection for your device. 2FA, when enabled on your device, will always require additional confirmation before granting access. It could be an SMS, a one-time password, a call, or a code before granting access. Microsoft or Google Authenticator is also another form of 2FA you can enable. You can link your device or apps to this authenticator and have it authorised for every login request. It generates a one-time password that lasts for one minute every time. With a 2FA enabled, it is impossible to hack your account without physically holding the other device.
Some other useful points to note include not using antivirus and having unsafe browsing habits. Learn from these tips to avoid the unfortunate.