As the last vestiges of 2022 fade into the distance, it’s time to welcome 2023 with open arms. Throughout the 2022, numerous technological advancements took the world by storm and the internet became more and more of a place we work, live, and play everyday. With our lives so intertwined with the world wide web, it’s no wonder we’re more vulnerable to attacks and hacking than ever before. 2023 is shaping up to be an interesting year for internet security. Here are five tips to get you through the upcoming year.
Use a Firewall
Using a firewall is one of the most essential and most common sense methods of securing your devices. The firewall to text malicious activity and prevent unauthorized intrusions on your network. Firewalls are easy to configure and easy to use. Most operating systems today come with a firewall built in. There are more powerful firewalls, however, available to more tech savvy users. Some Internet security programs also include their own proprietary firewall that users can set up and use to keep themselves safe online. To get the most out of your firewall, configure it properly. Make sure it’s secure and set up monitoring zones correctly. Ensure your password is secure and meets the appropriate length. Finally, configure access controls and sites. Setting up your firewall correctly is crucial to online security and can keep you more protected while online.
Use a VPN
Another way to protect yourself online in 2023 is to use a virtual private network. Virtual private networks, otherwise known as VPNs, are a useful tool for keeping your data safe online. Vpns work by rerouting your traffic through different servers located throughout the world. It’s sort of a virtual tunneling system. Not only do VPNs protect your privacy, they also provide access to geo blocked content, prevent your internet service provider from collecting/selling your data, and can act as a privacy barrier for online interactions. A good VPN won’t hog all your bandwidth and will allow you to browse in safety, making it a useful addition to your online security programs and measures.
Invest in a Security Suite
Sometimes the best method of securing your devices is to invest in a security program. These types of programs include antivirus, family monitoring software, firewalls, malware protection, and other features. A premium package will usually include a multitude of features that can cover more than five devices for a small annual fee. It also comes with a support line and plenty of useful features. Consider investing in a premium online security suite to help keep you and your family safe. With built-in antivirus features, malware protection, family limits, network intrusion alerts and many other fantastic features, a premium security suite can help keep you safe in 2023 and beyond without costing a lot of money.
Secure Your Mobile Devices
Mobile devices and doing things on our smartphones is a pretty big part of daily life. Because of that, they’re becoming targets for fraud, online attacks, hackers, and malware. Fortunately, it’s easy to protect these devices. Add an antivirus program to your phone (or better yet, add your device to your existing internet security system). Enable two-factor authentication and use it. Password-protect or otherwise lock your phone home screen. Use different passwords for the various websites and services with which you interact each day. It’s also a great idea to lock your phone, and encrypt your data, and make regular backups. Regular backups will be a lifesaver in the event do supper and attack and encrypted data makes it easier to prevent your information from falling into the wrong hands.
Use Better Passwords
The final item on our list is perhaps the most important passwords. Passwords are one of the biggest liabilities when it comes to online attacks. An insecure password is easy to crack, leading to compromise. When passwords get compromised, hackers can get into a system easily and cause all sorts of havoc. So you need to ensure your passwords are difficult to crack. Using a combination of different characters, numbers, upper and lowercase letters, and varying the length of the password can be affected. Passphrases are also effective. If you use different passwords for the various websites you visit, your Security will be even more robust. On top of that, you can use a password manager to keep track of the different passwords you use online. When combined with two-factor authentication, strong passwords can prevent security issues effectively.
