This year, we celebrate the 19th edition of “Safer Internet Day.” This day was created to remind internet users that the internet can sometimes be a dark place. Together, we can ensure it becomes a safer and better place, especially for young people.
Children can encounter cyberbullying, sexting, and/or hacking. Although many dangers lurk for children, this does not mean that the internet is a safe haven for adults. You, I, and even companies can be victims of cybercrime. The most common cyber incidents include cyber extortion, ransomware, data breaches, fake invoices, defacing, e-fraud, DoS/DDoS attacks, identity theft, phishing, and spam.
To reduce the risk, here are some tips:
- Good communication is extremely important in any company, but when it comes to data security, it is indispensable. It is necessary to properly inform and train your employees about the cybersecurity measures the company is taking. Often, companies fall victim to cybercrime due to carelessness or ignorance.
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) is gaining popularity. Many tools and software programs already use this feature. Besides entering your standard password, you must enter an additional code. This code is provided by another screen or an app on your phone. This method is very secure because hackers must intercept not only your password but also this generated code.
- A very obvious and often repeated tip: do not use the same passwords for everything you log into! However, many people still don’t follow this advice.
- Data encryption is the “encoding” of your files. Your files are coded based on an algorithm when you send them. When opening the file, it must first be processed back into a readable format. This prevents the message from being read or altered during transmission.
- Make good system backups to protect your documents and data against ransomware. This way, if your data is frozen, you won’t lose everything.
- There are plenty of online checklists available to assess how secure your company is. Review these and see how cyber-safe your data and documents really are.