Page 75 - Cyber Warnings

Top 5 Cyber Security Tips Every Internet User Must Consider

Must use tips for every internet user
by Anas Baig, Digital Security Enthusiast, Gaditek

The process of evolution affects every living thing equally; from the predator to the preyed upon.
While the internet users are getting smarter, in terms of their online security, the hackers too are
upping their game. Similar to the crime rate in the physical world, the rate of cyber crimes too is
on the rise.

Given the alarming situation, it is only logical for people to arm themselves with solid security
strategies and adopt the basic security fundamentals to remain as safe as possible on the
internet. Here are the five tips or guidelines to help you from becoming the hunted:

1. Create & Use Complex Password

There is more to passwords then what meets the eyes since they are your first line of defense.
Sadly, 55% of internet users not only have weak passwords, they use the same password for all
their online accounts, be it social or financial.

They don’t change their password for months on, which translates into an open invitation for
hackers to compromise just one account and get access to all the accounts.

My personal belief about passwords is “Don’t change your password regularly; just choose one
good, strong password for different accounts”. Make your password at least 12 characters long
and include numbers, special characters (variety of characters), mixed small & capital letters.

Last year, Keeper Security, a password management company, released a list of the most
common passwords of 2016.

The most popular password that made up nearly 17 percent of the 10 million passwords the
company analyzed was “123456.” “Password” was also among the top 10 passwords, coming in
as the eighth most common password on the list.

2. Use A VPN

A Virtual Private Network or a VPN is a service that creates a secure encrypted connection,
which can be best visualized as a tunnel between your computer and the server operated by a
VPN service, encrypting your online communications in the process to help you remain
protected against data snoopers.

A VPN also gives you complete online freedom by masking your IP with its dedicated IP
address. So, while a VPN keeps you safe online, it also lets you surf without any restraints.

75 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine – March 2017 Edition
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