Cyber security is one of the most important challenges for individuals and businesses today. Increased cyber threats mean that you must learn the basics of cyber security to protect your personal and professional information. The good news is that there are a few simple ways to improve your cyber security that aren't very difficult to learn. 
Here’s what we recommend.
Change Passwords Regularly
Passwords are a great way to keep personal and business systems safe, but not if you’re always using the same passwords. It’s important to keep things fresh by using unique passwords for different logins and by changing your passwords on a regular schedule. We recommend changing passwords at least once a year. It's even better if you update your passwords and check your security information every six months.
Keep Systems and Software Up To Date
Another simple way to improve your cyber security is to keep all of your systems and apps up to date. You can allow automated updates to go through as scheduled, but we know that that can be disruptive and not all updates are well-timed. So, if you can't update immediately, try to check your system for pending updates at least once a week. Checking for an update lets you schedule when works best for you. A lot of systems updates contain security updates, so it’s important to let them go through as soon as you can so your system isn’t more vulnerable than it has to be.
Create Digital And Physical Backups
Ransomware is one of the most popular and most threatening kinds of malware you may have to deal with, but there are plenty of other kinds of cyber threats that can put your data at risk. Making cloud backups is one way to help protect your data and make sure you can make at least a partial recovery. You can usually set up to make a cloud backup through your operating system. Unfortunately, cloud backups aren’t entirely secure, so you’ll need an additional backup for better security. We recommend getting a dedicated hard drive or server, depending on how much data you need to backup, to back up your system. You should always back up your system after adding new critical information, and at least once a month otherwise.
Learn To Identify Phishing Attempts
Phishing attempts are another common way for cybercriminals to get your information. These can range from emails asking for information to phone calls trying to get critical information from you. A lot of phishing attempts are easy to spot, spam calls asking about your car’s warranty are a type of phishing. But some may be more subtle, like emails that closely resemble company emails or communication from a subscription service or calls and texts that seem to come from your friends and family. Learning common warning signs of a phishing attempt is one of the best ways you can protect yourself and your data.
Monitor For Signs Of Trouble
Watching your systems, data, and bank information for signs of trouble is also a good way to help prevent the worst of a cyber-attack. There are often a lot of options if you catch an attack early enough, but not nearly as many if you don’t realize until it’s almost complete. Data changes, unexplained corruption, changed passwords, or unauthorized charges are all signs that something is wrong, and you should lock down your accounts and look more closely at the situation. Of course, if you’re concerned your current cyber security measures aren’t enough, Economic Computers can help. We can also help you recover data and get back on track after an attack.