Cyber Security Best Practices to Follow at Home

We all know that corporations, governments, and businesses of all sizes invest a fortune in cybersecurity. But staying safe is important for all individuals, too. With the increasing use of smart devices and the growing volume of personal data stored digitally, home users have become targets for cybercriminals.

You’ve probably heard of identity theft and ransomware attacks. But did you brush off the thought that it could happen to you, too? The threat is real, and it can have devastating consequences. At the moment, phishing scams, personal data breaches, and identity theft are among the most prevalent types of cyber crime.  

Let’s go through some personal cyber security tips that you can implement at home. Starting today!

10 Cybersecurity Practices to Follow at Home

Use Strong and Unique Passwords

Passwords are your first line of defense against unauthorized access to your personal information. A strong, unique password is important for every single account you make online. It makes it significantly harder for cybercriminals to gain access to your data. Common password patterns are easy for them to crack. 

Here’s how to create strong passwords and manage them accordingly:

• Use a combination of characters: upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. For example, “password123” is a commonly used phrase that’s easy to guess. But if you alter it to “P@ssw0rd!2#,” it will be much stronger. 

• Make your password long, aiming for at least 12 characters. 

• String together a random series of words. For example “Vitamin$Monkey*bLuE753”. 

• Change your passwords from time to time. That reduces your risk of long-term exposure. 

• Use an effective password manager tool. You’ll be creating multiple strong, unique passwords that are hard to remember. Writing them down in a secret notebook is not safe enough. A password manager tool will securely store your passwords and generate strong ones for you.  

Keep Your Data Lean

Efficient data management is a crucial aspect of cybersecurity for individuals. Keeping your data organized and lean will protect your personal information, improve system performance, and enhance overall security measures. 

Fewer files and less data mean fewer opportunities for cybercriminals to find and exploit vulnerabilities. If you clear photos from the iPhone, you’ll reduce the attack surface. Redundant and outdated files can serve as an entry point for attacks. That doesn’t mean you should delete all photos from your iPhone. But with photo duplication detection, you can get rid of the ones you don’t need. You can use an app to erase all photos from your iPhone, but you can also keep the ones you need without much effort. 

Lean data reduces the burden on security tools and systems, so it makes them more effective. The backup processes of your devices will be smoother, and recovery will be faster in case of data loss incidents. 

In addition to deleting unnecessary files, you can do more to keep your data lean:

• Create a logical folder structure. Categorize your files by type (documents, images, videos) and purpose (work, personal).

• Regularly review and delete outdated and unnecessary files. 

• Use cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud to store and organize your files.  

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Yes; 2FA is boring and nobody likes it. But it’s an additional layer of security. If someone is trying to gain access to your online account, they will be required to go beyond the username and password. Even if they figure out that data, they will be required to provide another piece of information. The second factor could come in a different form:

• Something you know: a second password or a PIN

• Something you have: a smartphone, hardware token, or security key

• Something you are: fingerprints, voice recognition, or other biometric data

2FA protects against different cyber threats, including phishing attacks, credential stuffing, and unauthorized access. If you can enable this security method for a certain online profile, do it. It’s especially important to use it for protecting banking information, email, and all accounts where you store personal data.  

Keep Your Software Updated

Regular updates and patches maintain the security and performance of your devices. Cybercriminals continuously search for vulnerabilities in software to exploit. When they find a crack, they use it. On the other side, developers release updates and patches to fix security flaws. Without those updates, your device is vulnerable to attacks such as malware, ransomware, and data breaches. 

Updates will also enhance the performance of your devices, fix bugs and improve the overall functionality. You’ll get new features that improve your user experience. It’s best to enable automatic updates for the device’s operating system and all apps that you regularly use. Updates are especially important for antivirus software!

Use a Reliable Antivirus and Anti-Malware Program

Your strategic approach for cybersecurity at home must include at least one antivirus and anti-malware tool. Such a program will detect, prevent, and remove malicious software that can compromise your data and devices. 

Antivirus software is designed to detect and remove traditional viruses. It evolved to combat a wide range of malware, including worms, Trojans, and spyware. Anti-malware software focuses on more sophisticated threats, such as ransomware, rootkits, and advanced persistent threats. You can use a tool that combines both functions, or get separate tools for antivirus and anti-malware protection. 

Here’s how to use your antivirus and anti-malware program in the best way:

• Enable automatic updates, so your software will get the latest virus definitions and security patches.

• Turn on real-time protection, so the program will continuously monitor your system. It will detect and block threats as soon as they get in. 

• Schedule regular automatic scans (daily or weekly) to check your system for malware. In addition, it’s good to perform custom scans on specific folders that contain sensitive data or frequently downloaded files. 

Secure Your Home Network

Are you getting the “weak security” alert on your computer? It means you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network that’s not updated with the latest security standards. If your router doesn’t support WPA3, use WPA2 as the next best option in encryption standards. Older encryption standards like WEP are not recommended, as they can be easily compromised. 

Here are a few more information security tips for the Wi-Fi network in your home:

• Use a strong, unique password for your Wi-Fi network. Include a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters, just like you would do for an important online banking account. Avoid sharing your password, and always change it after doing so.

• Hide your SSID (the name of your network), which the router broadcasts by default. When you hide it, you’ll make the network less visible to potential attackers. 

• Set up a separate guest network for visitors and smart devices. With that, you’ll isolate your primary devices and personal data from potential vulnerabilities in less secure devices. 

• Limit the number of devices that can connect to your network. Set a limit to the number of devices you’re actually using, so you’ll prevent unauthorized access. 

• Change the default administrator password, which your router came with. Create your own password!

• Router manufacturers periodically release firmware updates to fix security vulnerabilities and improve performance. Check for updates from time to time, and apply them when available.  

Back Up Your Data Regularly

Regular data backups will protect your valuable information from data loss. You could lose your data because of hardware failures, cyberattacks, accidental deletion, or natural disasters. In such cases, a backup will enable you to recover important files. 

Data backups also protect you against ransomware. They enable version control, and ultimately give you some peace of mind. 

You can rely on different backup methods:

• Cloud backups — They can be automated, so you won’t bother with manual commands. Most cloud services offer encryption and secure storage, so your files will be safe. You’ll be able to access them from any device with an Internet connection. 

• External drives — They give you complete control over your data. Although you’ll have to buy one, it will be a one-time cost without ongoing subscription fees. If you need to access or restore data, you won’t need an Internet connection to do so. You can opt for USB flash drives, external hard drives (HDD), or solid-state drivers (SSD).  

Protect Yourself from Phishing Scams

Phishing is a type of cyber attack that aims to deceive individuals into providing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or other personal data. Scammers carry out these attacks through email, social media, phone calls, or text messages. They often appear to come from legitimate sources. 

Here’s how to recognize a phishing attempt:

• Check the sender’s email address. Scammers often use email addresses similar to legitimate ones, with slight variations or misspellings. 

• Watch out for urgency! Phishing messages often create a sense that action is urgent, otherwise your account would be suspended. Always think twice before reaching for your card when you see an urgent message like that. 

• Beware of unexpected email attachments and never download anything from unknown senders. 

• Use security software to detect and block phishing attempts. 

• If you suspect an email or message is a phishing attempt, don’t respond to it. Don’t click its links or open attachments. It’s best to report the phishing attempt. Most email providers have a mechanism that lets you report it. 

Overview

Cybersecurity practices aren’t meant just for businesses and professional users. Safeguarding the devices you use at home is more important than ever. Fortunately, doing so is not that hard. We gave you some simple tips that should become a part of your daily practices. When you turn those practices into a habit, you’ll protect your personal information and continue being part of the digital world in a more secure way. Stay informed, stay updated, and stay safe!