Digital hygiene tips to protect yourself against cyber threats

Are you taking preventative measures to protect yourself against cyber threats? If you have poor digital hygiene, you can be exposed to malware, viruses, data breaches, and other cyber threats. Digital hygiene is similar to personal hygiene, except that it refers to your digital habits rather than your personal care habits. By improving your digital hygiene, you will be better protected against cyber threats.

Delete unnecessary data

Whether it's stored locally on your computer or online through a cloud storage server, you need to delete what you no longer want or need. Data retention will only increase the risk of a cyber attack. The data is sought after by hackers, many of whom use it for identity theft.  By deleting unnecessary data, you will be less likely to suffer a cyber attack. Many agencies in the world help people improve digital hygiene, see this here .

Use multiple layers of security

Instead of relying on a single layer of security to protect you against cyber attacks, use multiple layers.  Some people assume the antivirus software is adequate. They only use antivirus software while ignoring other cybersecurity solutions. You can still use antivirus software, but consider adding other layers of security like a firewall and intrusion detection system (IDS).

Create unique passwords

Creating unique passwords for all your accounts promotes good digital hygiene.  According to Google, nearly two in three Internet users reuse passwords.  Using the same password for multiple accounts is convenient, but it puts the security of your accounts at risk.  If more than one account has the same password and one of them is compromised, the hacker or the person behind the attack can gain access to your other accounts.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) will improve your digital hygiene. MFA is a verification method used to further strengthen the security of a login-based account. With MFA enabled, you will need to complete an additional step to access the respective account.  In addition to entering your username and password, for example, MFA may ask you to enter a code that is sent to your email address or smartphone.