There are a number of ways that computer hackings can occur. Not only can your entire computer system itself get hacked, but your website, email, and much more can all be victims to a computer hacking. If someone is able to hack into your website, your entire website could be compromised, along with if someone hacks into your email, imagine all the personal information that could be stolen from there. Here are a few tips you can use to avoid a hacker coming in and destroying your computer, email, or website.
1. Make Your Passwords Tough and Change Often
It is beyond easy to have the same password for all accounts, which is why we all do it, but what happens when that password gets hacked? Everything gets hacked! Make sure to include symbols, uppercase and lowercase letters, and numbers. How are you supposed to remember all those? A password keeper! Take a second and visit Google and search for “password keeper.” Not only will they store your passwords, but they also will create unique passwords for you.
2. Delete, Delete, Delete!
Times of technology are always changing, and so are the forms of social media. Remember when Xanga and MySpace were all the rage? Go back and delete those old accounts that you no longer use. There is plenty of personal information on there and probably the account has a password with your dog’s name and your favorite number.
3. Save a Back Up
No matter if it’s just a simple research paper or your entire 1,000 page website, a version of it should be saved using an external hard drive, a flash drive, or by using an online service. If you have your website backed up and a hacker comes in, you can go in and change your passwords and put up your old site.
4. Install Firewall and Anti-Virus Software
Firewalls forbid outside threats like hackers and viruses from being able to access your system. Now a days most computers already have anti-virus software on them from the beginning, but be sure to check that it is not outdated (or that you even have one) and to make sure it runs scans frequently. If you are looking for a free anti-virus software, try AVG.
5. Encrypt Data
To go along with storing your data on your hard drive as well as an external drive, make sure to encrypt it! This way if a hacker does get access to your computer, you get to put up a security gate and make everything hard to access. Try TrueCrypt when starting to encrypt your data.
Follow these 5 simple tips and you should be able to avoid a hacker coming in and stealing your information and ruining your website.
Aaron Walker works with social media and computers every day, as well as being a freelance writer. Follow him on Twitter @aronwalker77.
1. Make Your Passwords Tough and Change Often
It is beyond easy to have the same password for all accounts, which is why we all do it, but what happens when that password gets hacked? Everything gets hacked! Make sure to include symbols, uppercase and lowercase letters, and numbers. How are you supposed to remember all those? A password keeper! Take a second and visit Google and search for “password keeper.” Not only will they store your passwords, but they also will create unique passwords for you.
2. Delete, Delete, Delete!
Times of technology are always changing, and so are the forms of social media. Remember when Xanga and MySpace were all the rage? Go back and delete those old accounts that you no longer use. There is plenty of personal information on there and probably the account has a password with your dog’s name and your favorite number.
3. Save a Back Up
No matter if it’s just a simple research paper or your entire 1,000 page website, a version of it should be saved using an external hard drive, a flash drive, or by using an online service. If you have your website backed up and a hacker comes in, you can go in and change your passwords and put up your old site.
4. Install Firewall and Anti-Virus Software
Firewalls forbid outside threats like hackers and viruses from being able to access your system. Now a days most computers already have anti-virus software on them from the beginning, but be sure to check that it is not outdated (or that you even have one) and to make sure it runs scans frequently. If you are looking for a free anti-virus software, try AVG.
5. Encrypt Data
To go along with storing your data on your hard drive as well as an external drive, make sure to encrypt it! This way if a hacker does get access to your computer, you get to put up a security gate and make everything hard to access. Try TrueCrypt when starting to encrypt your data.
Follow these 5 simple tips and you should be able to avoid a hacker coming in and stealing your information and ruining your website.
Aaron Walker works with social media and computers every day, as well as being a freelance writer. Follow him on Twitter @aronwalker77.
No comments:
Post a Comment