The rate of cyber attacks has increased over the past decade. This post will show you how to protect your digital devices from hackers.
We now live in a world where using digital devices is a given. It is almost unlikely to find anyone who does not possess at least one digital device. We move around with them, work with them, and communicate with them.
From our smartphones to our laptops, Air Pods, smartwatches, and the Alexa that manages our reminders, digital gadgets have become a part of our everyday lives.
However, just as we have witnessed the widespread use of digital devices, so also have hacking proliferated. As new devices with enhanced features surface every day, digital device hacking also gets sophisticated every day.
It is imperative then that you consciously take the effort to ensure that your gadgets and digital devices stay away from the prying eyes of hackers.
Without wasting time, we will be taking you through some of the things you can do to protect your digital devices from hackers.
How To Protect Your Digital Devices From Hackers
1. Update your Apps and OS
It is as simple as said. As much as possible, ensure that your devices run on the latest software updates. Outdated software usually provides backdoors from which hackers can maneuver their way into your devices.
Note that these updates are not peculiar to laptop updates alone, your mobile smartphones are not exempted from this. Once a new update is available, ensure you get on it.
You should not forget that software updates occur for certain reasons. Prominently, enhanced security patches rank on the list. Yes, certain features you are used to might change, but ultimately, it is better to be safe than sorry.
2. Verify Software before Installing
It is nice to keep software updated, but what happens if you installed corrupt software in the first place. You would have directly invited the doom to your table. To avoid this kind of unwarranted risk, ensure that you watch out for the kind of software you install on your devices.
Always make sure that you install only verified software, and from verified sources. Pay attention to app reviews and comments. That way you get to learn directly from the experiences of early users, and you can make an informed decision to either go ahead with its installation or make a U-turn altogether.
Once again, it saves you the agony of lost information and data privacy breaches, to say the least.
3. Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi
Who does not like what is free! Especially when it is free internet access. It saves you money and conserves your data. But we can tell you that is one of the reasons you should avoid it.
By opting into a public Wi-Fi network, you run the risk of being hacked. The general security standard on publicly accessible Wi-Fi networks is always very low. Hackers usually seek to tap into this vulnerability to exploit the volume of public Wi-Fi connections.
Hackers target public Wi-Fi connections like those of banks to steal information and steal money. If you are connected to such Wi-Fi shortly before such hacks, you stand the risk of losing more than just money. Your data can be vacuumed via your digital footprint and it can be used for other nefarious activities.
4. Periodically Erase your Browsing History
It can mean that you have to type that long URL all over, don’t worry, just take the pain to do it. It is far better than if a hacker has access to all of your digital footprint.
Once in a while, clear all of your browsing data and history and start afresh.
When you have your browsing history cleared, it limits what a hacker can have access to in the case your device gets exposed. Your digital footprint would have been safely erased. That way a hacker does not know the websites you visit often and what you do on such platforms.
5. Be Prepared to Deploy “Find My Device”
Preparing for the unforeseen is a good way to go as far as your digital devices are concerned. Smart devices, especially those running on the Android or the iOS operating system can be configured for this.
The tendency of you to have sensitive information on your smartphone is high. Losing such a device will expose a lot of your private information. To prepare for such eventualities, you should not forget to activate the remote device tracking feature on your device.
With this service, you can decide to wipe the information on your device after several unsuccessful unlock attempts, or you can track your device via map before deciding to remotely lock it, or erase everything you have on it.
Conclusion
The threat of hacking is as real as the digital devices you walk around with. You have to consciously take action to protect your devices from digital invasions and unwanted access.