5 Things to Do Before 8AM to Protect Yourself Online

5 Things to Do Before 8AM to Protect Yourself Online

5 Things to Do Before 8AM to Protect Yourself OnlineAfter grabbing that first cup of coffee, what is the first thing that most people do? Go straight for their device! As soon as you “step foot” out into cyber land, you become vulnerable to hackers, con people and all the bad things that make up the Internet.  

Here are 5 things you can do in 5 minutes (or less) to protect yourself online while you sip your cup-o-joe!

1. Make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date. Check to see if there are security patches and software updates, and install them immediately. Also, be sure to always use the latest version of your web browser of choice.

2. Google yourself. Yep, that’s right. Type your name into the Google search bar and hit the “enter” button. Be aware of the information that is available online about you because hackers can perform a simple search, manipulate your information and use it to their benefit.

3. Clear your cache. Every time you visit a website, web browsers save tiny files on your computer that make the website load faster the next time you visit it. Sounds like a good thing, right? Not necessarily! People (or hackers) who may use your computer after you can browse your history to see what websites you visited and could gain access to your login IDs, passwords, and other sensitive information.

4. Make sure your webcam is disabled or at least covered. “Camfecting” has become very popular over the past several months as hackers are breaking into computers, activating webcams and spying on people. Creepy, huh?

The simplest and most secure way to protect yourself from camfecting is to put a piece of tape, Post-it note or a Band-Aid over your webcam. There are also free software solutions that allow users to temporarily disable/enable their webcams, which would be my choice for the highest security.

5. Update your passwords. We are bombarded with having to create passwords. Off the top of my head, I can think of at least 15 passwords that I have to remember on a daily basis. It would be so simple to just have the exact same password for each and every account, but this makes it too easy for hackers to access your confidential information.

Take the time to change and update at least 1 password each and every morning. Make sure each is unique, and comprised of letters, numbers and special characters. This semi-constant changing of passwords will keep them fresh, making it difficult for hackers to steal your password.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Return to Form

    My first security trade show was in 2021. At the time, I was awed by the sheer magnitude of the event and the spectacle of products on display. But this was the first major trade show coming out of the pandemic, and the only commentary I heard was how low the attendance was. Two representatives from one booth even spent the last morning playing catch in the aisle with their giveaway stress balls. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • Live from ISC West: Day 1 Recap

    The first day of ISC West 2023 is in the books, and it’s safe to say that vendors have brought their A-game to Las Vegas. The booths of this year’s Live From partners—NAPCO Security, Alibi Security, Vistacom, RGB Spectrum, and DoorKing—were swamped all day long. Here’s a brief recap of just a few highlights from each partner’s presence at the show. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • Turn on the AC, ISC West is Hot

    Nothing warm about the Las Vegas weather outside. It is cold, and it was raining after the opening day. No one seemed to care inside the convention center. The hall was packed with inquisitive security professionals. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • Live From ISC West 2023: Day 1

    ISC West 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada, has officially begun! Make sure to keep an eye on Security Today’s ISCW Live 2023 page, as well as our associated Twitter accounts—@SecurToday and @CampusSecur—for the latest updates from the show floor at the Venetian Expo. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • HID Signo Readers

    HID Signo Readers

    HID Global has announced its HID® Signo™ Biometric Reader 25B that is designed to capture and read fingerprints in real-world applications and conditions. 3

  • Paxton10 CORE Cameras

    Paxton10 CORE Cameras

    The new CORE Series cameras feature edge processing for ultimate scalability, built-in edge storage, and plug-and-play installation. The addition of the CORE Series gives installers new hardware, better choice, and more value than ever before. 3

  • FlexPower® Global™ Series (FPG) from LifeSafety Power

    FlexPower® Global™ Series (FPG) from LifeSafety Power

    The FlexPower® Global™ Series (FPG) from LifeSafety Power—designed to provide DC power for access control systems in international applications—is now PSE listed for Japan and compatible with the country’s 100VAC applications. 3