What are the Ways to Protect Your Identity from Hackers and to Make it as Your career?

With the rise in use of social networking and dating websites, businesses and people are sharing more information online than ever before, making them vulnerable to identity theft. Uber’s announcement of a data breach in 2016 that affected nearly 57 million riders and drivers is one of the many examples that shows how pivotal cyber security training is to protect your digital life from the risks surrounding it.

The question is, how do you protect your identity from hackers who are hell-bent on stealing your personal and financial records in an effort to malign your reputation or to get rich from that data? Here are some steps you can take to protect yourselves online. If all else fails, enroll in online cyber security courses to get the ball rolling.

Enable Multi Factor Authentication

Most online service providers (Google, Apple, and Microsoft) and banks (Union Bank of India, etc.) have two-factor authentication that allows you type in a numerical code in additional to your password when you’re logging in to any of these services. It takes a tad bit longer to gain entry to the service, but that is hardly a deterrent when it’s a question of protecting your cyber identity.

Password-Protect Your Router

If you’ve purchased a new router at home or at work, chances are that it comes with no security. When your router isn’t password-protected, anyone within your range can use your Internet. Make sure to log in to your router and set a password using an encrypted setup. This will prevent identity thieves from infiltrating your network and tampering with your settings.

Keep Your Browser, Apps and Operating System Updated

Always update your devices to ensure you have the latest in terms of security across all technologies. Most updates include security patches that prevent hackers from exploiting your data. Every cyber security tutorial for beginners will teach you to use browsers to prevent sites from tracking your movement, thus increasing your online privacy. Softwares usually come with an in-built security functionality that helps them catch and prevent cyber-attacks.

Use Encryption

Before conducting any financial transactions online, look for signs that confirm whether the website is encrypted or not. To do this, it is necessary to focus on two key things: the extra “s” at the end of the ‘HTTP’ in the URL and the lock symbol in the web address bar. These signs ensure that your number, credit card number, name, and address cannot be seen by anyone else. Also, make sure to only shop on encrypted sites and encrypt your Windows OS with BitLocker or FileVault.

Sign Up for Credit Report Alerts

Credit reporting agencies are the gatekeepers for your credit activities. They collect information about how you use credit and send a copy of your credit report monthly or weekly, depending on your requirement. Make sure you sign up for email or text alerts about credit transactions, as these will allow you to spot and follow up on any charges that you do not recognize.

If you’re keen on kick-starting a career in cyber security, begin with gaining experience in IT. You need to master technology before you can learn how to secure it. You’ll need to supplement academic training with cyber security certifications to have an edge over other applicants. There are also many online cyber security courses that you can look up to up-skill. Once you have done that, the ball is in your court.

Sources: 

forbes.com

us.norton.com

businessnewsdaily.com