This is the first part in a series of posts that will cover some of the basics of personal cybersecurity. It’s not going to be a comprehensive guide, but it will cover some of the most simple yet effective things that anyone can do from a beginners perspective. So something you can point to an aunt or uncle who is not very tech savvy, but would like to know how to stay safe online.
In this post, we will cover some simple personal measures that you can take to help protect yourself and your personal information from being compromised online. It came about after a friend asked for some simple tips, and I thought it would be a good idea to write a series of posts that expand on each of the following points.
For each topic with applicable software, I will provide recommendations for both self-hosted and paid options with a prefernce for open-source, as well as some additional resources for those who want to learn more or the DIY/Paranoid type.
Here are a few simple personal measures that can take to help you stay safe online:
- Use strong and unique passwords for each of your online accounts, and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
- Be aware of social engineering tactics and avoid falling for scams or phishing attempts.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible, to add lan extra layer of protection against unauthorized access.
- Be cautious when sharing personal information online, and only share information with trusted sources.
- Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown or untrusted sources, as these may contain malware or other harmful content.
- Use a reputable antivirus and firewall software to protect your devices from malware and other security threats.
- Regularly update your operating system and other software to ensure that you have the latest security patches and fixes.
- Don’t use public computers to access your personal accounts, as these may be infected with malware or other security threats.
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) when accessing public Wi-Fi networks, to encrypt your internet traffic and protect your data from being intercepted.
- Be aware of social engineering tactics and avoid falling for scams or phishing attempts.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you think you have been a victim of a cyber attack or other security threat.
By following these measures, you can help protect yourself and your personal information from being compromised online.
I will also be covering some of the more advanced topics in future posts,
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