At a time when most of us have mobile phones with an Internet connection, access to the network from home and, above all, after the increase in teleworking in Spanish homes as a result of home confinement after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic In March of last year, it is clear that protecting our security online is even more important today.
Furthermore, as many specialists and companies specializing in digital security agree, hackers have taken advantage of the forced deployment caused by the arrival of the pandemic and the increase in teleworking to launch numerous attacks , some of which they have already appeared on the front page of all the newspapers.
And home users are not exempt from suffering them. In fact, it is estimated that each month, more than 1.5 million new websites dedicated to phishing are detected, more than 2.2 billion email addresses and passwords are hacked, and 350,000 new malicious programs (malware) appear.
Therefore, it is evident that it is essential to implement some essential measures to, at least, try to minimize and stop the progression of these attacks as much as possible.
Use cloud storage services for your backups
In recent months we have known different ransomware attacks , which consists of a specific attack in which the pirate infiltrates the computer with the intention of stealing and / or blocking the stored data, and then (not always) request a “ransom ”For a specified amount of money.
In case of not having made a backup copy to an external hard drive, or to a cloud storage service, it is most likely that, in the end, we will end up losing them.
Therefore, although it is possible to opt for a backup on an external hard drive, these types of devices are not exempt from any hardware failure, so most experts recommend scheduling periodic backups of our files in the cloud .
Make regular updates
It is advisable to update our operating system quickly, which would guarantee the reliability and security of the system, especially when we choose to install them from the moment their developers distribute it.
One option when it comes to keeping our operating system up to date is to opt for the different solutions offered by both Apple with its macOS and Microsoft with Windows. From time to time they release periodic updates with which they offer improvements and new functionalities, and, above all, they correct certain errors or security problems.
Therefore, we must ensure that at no time have we deactivated the automatic update function. Or at least the update notification feature to always be in the know.
Use an antivirus
Using a good antivirus is the basis for protecting our computer . But for years, antivirus have not been just antivirus. With the development not only of new viruses, but also of new threats, the protection tools have been considerably enriched.
And today they consist of comprehensive security suites that help analyze files and ensure protection in real time. And a good example is found in Avira Free Security, a free security package that includes ten protection and monitoring tools compatible with Windows and macOS.
Avoid always using the same passwords
One of the things we must do when we want to achieve real protection against hackers, malware and other online threats is to use a password manager , to store our passwords in a kind of secure digital “safe”, and even generate new strong passwords when we need it.
Obviously, it is also important to stop using the same password every time , even if it is a complete sentence, including special characters and lowercase and uppercase letters.
Buy only from trusted sites
Now that Internet shopping has increased considerably there is no doubt that it is essential to always check the general reputation of the website where we are before making a purchase.
We must verify that the site has an HTTPS protocol, do not register our banking information on the merchant’s site (but on the payment gateway of the bank) and, above all, investigate possible dissatisfied customers.
If we have an account, it is also possible to opt for Paypal, a useful option to avoid having to enter our bank details.
