More than 390,000 new pieces of malware are detected each day. These large numbers of malicious programs give hackers a large number of opportunities to gain access to the information within your device. You may not even know that you are making common mistakes that give hackers access. Here is a list of common mistakes that many users make and how to avoid them to keep your device and network safe.
Clicking questionable links. Users often click on links from sites they aren’t familiar with just to download music, access free photos, read an article, and so on. However, clicking on questionable links can add malware to your system and give hackers access to personal information that you don’t want them to have. Stay safe by only using reputable sites. Generally the more secure sites will be at the top of Google search, but if you ever question a link, just don’t click on it.
Using unknown flash drives. We all know how important it is to back-up all your files in case your computer gets broken or stolen, but always be careful when you are using someone else’s flash or USB drive in your computer. External devices can be full of malware that you aren’t even aware of. All it takes is just one well-placed drive to infect your computer.
Downloading unsolicited antivirus software. I know that we are fans of free, so when free antivirus software pops up, most of us are going to want to take advantage of it. You might get a pop-up on your computer that says something about your computer being at risk if you don’t immediately download antivirus software. The problem with this is that hackers actually use this trick to gain access to your computer. Once you download this software, it will be hard to get rid of the malware.
Leaving your webcam open to attack. Webcam hacks can be a terrifying violation of your privacy, but they do happen. A certain type of malware can actually give a hacker access to your computer and the ability to turn on and off your webcam as they please. Your webcam isn’t protected in the same way as other network-enabled devices, so make sure that you know what the signs are that your webcam is on.
Using the same password everywhere. It’s easy to want to use the same password everywhere so that you don’t have to remember so many different ones, but this is like a hacker’s dream. By making all your passwords the same, hackers only have to gain access to one of your accounts to gain access to all of them. So while it may be difficult to remember so many different passwords, it is worth it.
Procrastinating software updates. A software update might pop up on your computer, and you might think that you don’t have the time to do it. This is a mistake. Necessary updates are there for your protection. Often times they fix large holes in security, and if you drag your feet on installing them, you open your computer up to attack.
Using public Wi-Fi. Like I said before, we all like free, which makes public Wi-Fi very attractive. While it is fine to use public Wi-Fi to access some thing, it isn’t a good idea to use it to access personal information like bank accounts. Sometimes hackers create malware-laden access points where as soon as you join the network, you might be giving them access to passwords and personal data.
Resources:
http://www.dailyinfographic.com/top-5-computer-security-mistakes-infographic