Lifestyle

5 Ways to Check Your Cyber Security In This Digital Age

Today’s world is a digital one. Smartphones, laptops, and other connected devices are almost everywhere. As a result, cyber-attacks are on the rise as well. Your home is just as susceptible to these attacks as any other business or organization. That’s why you must take steps to check your home’s cyber security regularly. 

Are you staying secure? If not, follow these 5 tips to start checking your home’s cyber security and keep your family safe from hackers and criminals.

Upgrade to a New Device

If you’ve been using the same computer for a decade, then it may be time to upgrade to a newer model. New devices are designed to protect against cyber attacks better than their predecessors because they’re more likely to have updates that protect against any new threats.

The operating system itself can also be upgraded to newer versions that can add even more security. But most importantly, newer devices are more likely to have the latest and greatest software that’s designed to protect against the most recent online threats. 

As you upgrade your computer, you may want to also upgrade your phone. Newer phones are often more secure than older models. Upgrading your phone can also be a great way to stay connected to your computer and other devices. 

Check your Wi-FI

This is one of the most overlooked ways to check your home’s cyber security. Remember to check your Wi-Fi security when you’re away. What if someone connected to your Wi-Fi network when you weren’t home? You don’t know who else may be connected to it or what they might be able to do. 

Make sure that the password is set to “out-of-reach” so no one can connect to it while you’re away. You should also make sure your Wi-Fi network is on private when you are using it, so other devices connected to it cannot share or have access to the information the devices currently connected to it have. 

You can also scan your network to make sure you don’t have any harmful programs connected to your network. If you see any suspicious programs, you can either delete them or block them from accessing your network.

 

Update your Software

The software on your devices can sometimes prevent them from communicating with other devices. This can lead to issues like your phone not connecting to your computer or laptop. Or it might stop your computer from connecting to the internet. 

The first step to fixing these issues is to check if your software is up-to-date. If you’re having trouble updating your software, try turning off your device, then restarting it. When your device turns on, you should see an “ updating software ” message. 

If that does not work and your device doesn’t show that message, try restarting your device again. If that does not show up again, you can also try connecting your device to your computer to see if it can update automatically.

Protect your Network

As your devices connect to your home or business’s network, they’re putting themselves at risk. Someone could try to hack into that network and steal information like passwords or financial information. You can try to protect your network by installing a firewall and anti-virus software on your devices. 

A firewall might prevent someone from accessing your network while keeping your devices protected. You can also change your network settings to stop devices from sharing information on your network. This way, only the specific devices that need to be able to communicate with each other can. Maybe you have a printer connected to your network that you don’t need to share information with other devices. You can change that setting so that the printer can only communicate with the devices it needs to.

Educate Others On Cyber Security

You can help keep your family safe by educating them on cyber security. If you first do not know, you can reach out to professionals to make sure you have managed cyber security protocols in place. 

It is most important for young children to be educated on how to stay safe online. Help them download an app like CyberPatrol that lets them know when they’re being online, or virus protection software that gives them an alert if they are downloading or interacting with dangerous applications. 

Wrapping Up

Keeping your home’s cyber security is essential. It can protect you from many threats. It can also protect your family from unwanted guests like hackers and Internet predators. Following these steps is a positive way forward, ensuring you and your loved ones can be at peace on your devices and on the internet. 

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