Cybercrime is on the rise, there is no denying this fact. With people becoming more reliant on technology, using their smartphones to log into their bank accounts and using social media which stores and uses your data, hackers are sometimes able to take advantage of this. You may think your business is impenetrable, however, this is not true, and so whether you’re a one-person-band who runs their own blog or a huge multi-million business, here are 6 tips on how to protect your online business from cyber attacks.
Who is at Risk from cybercrime?
All businesses, no matter the size, are at risk from cybercrime. Therefore, no business should be lax in their security methods, and should always look for ways to secure their data and have a plan B for if something were ever to happen.
Update Your Protection Methods
Your anti-virus software should be regularly updated so it can contend with the newest forms of threat. Similarly, if you use a platform such as WordPress, makes sure all of your plug-ins are updated so that hackers find it harder to find holes in your website’s security.
What’s more, take a look and review all your marketing methods. Email marketing, social media marketing, and even content marketing can all be taken advantage of when it comes to cybercriminals. Turn to reliable and trustworthy Amazon affiliate programs, which can advise you on how to do email marketing and social media marketing effectively and safely.
Avoid Spam Links
When you get an email from an unknown source, do not open any links it contains unless you are absolutely sure the sender can be trusted. Spam links can sometimes be a way for hackers to get access to your computer, or a way to get you to enter sensitive information. Even if an email looks as though it is from a trusted source, double check before you click on anything. For example, there may be emails that claim to be from companies that you regularly use, such as your bank or favorite retailer. If you’re ever unsure, phone the company directly and ask.
Use Longform Passwords
Don’t have passwords that are easy to guess. The most secure passwords use a combination of numbers and characters, so choose randomly. Don’t use the same passwords to get into several accounts, and change them regularly.
Encrypt Your Website
Encryption turns any data into a string of undecipherable content if viewed by another party without the corresponding code. It adds another layer of security to your website that makes it more difficult for hackers to access your information.
Back-Up Files
One form of cyber threat that is on the rise is ransom attacks, which is where malware is used to mess up your computer, and can only be removed by paying a ransom to the attacker. This can have a detrimental financial effect on any online business, and also cause months or years’ worth of work to be damaged. Avoid the threat of ransom attacks by regularly backing up your files to an external source, so you can easily get back up and run if needed.
Keeping your online business protected from cyber threats is now more important than ever, and everything from multi-million dollar operations to single websites is at risk. Don’t let your website security slip. Keep up to date on the newest information out there on cyber-threats and stay one step ahead.
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