The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) data shows that 2020 had 1.4 million reported identity thefts, and they expect it to increase in 2021. These thefts mainly occur due to outdated software and weak passwords. There are three steps below that you can follow to improve your cyber security.
Personal computers are used for many things such as emailing, messaging, moving funds between bank accounts, going on social media, doing your taxes every year, browsing the web, and more. Therefore, keeping your personal information secure and safe from malware is important. One way to keep malware at bay is to use antivirus software that will detect and remove malware from your computer.
Keep in mind that you need to keep all software up to date so that the computer runs well and helps to keep your information safe. Some antivirus software makes that easy by allowing you to choose automatic updates but you have to search for it in the settings.
It only takes a few minutes to locate and turn on the automatic updates of your existing antivirus software or to install the antivirus software of your choosing to keep you cyber safe.
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Passwords are one of the biggest vulnerabilities when it comes to keeping your personal information safe and secure. One way to create and update a strong password is by using a password manager. A password manager is a software application designed to safely store and manage your passwords with encryption. The benefit of using a password manager is that all you need is a single, master password for the manager and you are able to access all the passwords you have saved. Password managers can remind you when it’s time to update your password and notify you if your password may have been compromised. If you aren’t sure that your password is strong enough, a password manager can also help create a password that isn’t associated with your personal information so it is harder to hack.
To use the tool, all you would need to do is pick the password manager that works best with your computer’s operating system – Windows or Mac – and install it. Then you create a master password and start storing your passwords for other software and applications. We do recommend allowing the password manager to create or suggest passwords for you.
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Keeping your web browser up to date by making sure you have all the newest security patches installed is also important when it comes to practicing safe browsing. Computer Hope has step-by-step instructions on how to check for updates for the 6 most common web browsers.
By following all three steps of updating your antivirus, using a password manager, and keeping your browser up to date, you can improve your cyber safety and avoid being one of the reported identity thefts.