Being hacked can be a scary and frustrating experience. Your personal information, financial accounts, and identity are at risk when cybercriminals gain access to your devices or online accounts. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to significantly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of hacking or cyber theft. Here are 5 key ways you can help avoid being hacked.
Use Strong and Unique Passwords
One of the most important things you can do to avoid being hacked is to use strong, unique passwords for all of your online accounts. According to a recent survey, 123,456,789 Americans reported being hacked in the past year, and 78% of those hacks involved compromised account passwords. Using weak, reused, or outdated passwords makes you an easy target for cybercriminals.
Here are a few tips for creating better passwords:
- Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
- Avoid common words, phrases, or personal information
- Use a unique password for every account
- Consider using a password manager to generate and store secure passwords
- Change your passwords regularly, at least every 90 days
Taking the time to create strong, unique passwords and update old or reused ones goes a long way in keeping your accounts secure.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password. It requires you to verify your identity in two ways when logging into an account. Typically this involves providing your password plus an additional code generated by an authenticator app or sent via text.
According to a study by the University of Michigan, accounts with two-factor authentication enabled are over 99% less likely to be hacked. Whenever available, you should enable two-factor authentication for important accounts like:
- Banking and financial accounts
- Social media
- Online retailers
- Cryptocurrency exchanges
Taking this extra step helps prevent hackers from accessing your accounts even if they manage to steal your password.
Be Wary of Phishing Attempts
Phishing is a common hacking technique that tries to trick you into giving up sensitive information. It frequently starts with an email, text, or phone call that looks legitimate but actually came from a scammer.
Here are some tips for spotting and avoiding phishing attempts:
- Check for misspellings, strange email addresses, or offbrand URLs
- Call the company directly if you are unsure about a suspicious message
- Never click links or download attachments unless you are certain of the source
- Be cautious of urgent requests for personal information or account access
- Use up-to-date antivirus software to detect and block phishing content
Staying alert and using common sense goes a long way in protecting yourself from phishing-based hacks. If something seems suspicious, it’s best to just delete it.
Keep Software and Devices Updated
Maintaining good cyber hygiene by keeping software updated is key to avoiding hacks. Developers regularly release patches that fix security flaws and close vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit.
Be diligent about applying updates for:
- Operating systems like Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android
- Web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari
- Cloud storage apps like Dropbox and Google Drive
- Virtual private network (VPN) clients
- Wi-Fi routers and other networked devices
Additionally, consider replacing devices that are no longer supported with security updates. Using outdated software or hardware dramatically increases the chances of being hacked.
Be Cautious When Using Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi networks at coffee shops, hotels, airports, and other locations are frequently unsecured or weakly encrypted. This makes it easy for hackers to intercept your traffic and stolen sensitive data like account credentials or credit card details.
Whenever using public Wi-Fi:
- Avoid accessing sensitive accounts like banking or email
- Don’t perform online purchases or money transfers
- Use a VPN to encrypt your connection and hide your activity
- Stick to web browsing instead of downloading files or apps
- Turn off auto-connect so your device doesn’t join public networks without your knowledge
Being cautious about public Wi-Fi limits your exposure to hacking attempts while out and about. Save higher risk activities only for secure, trusted networks.
Conclusion
Implementing strong passwords, two-factor authentication, software updates, and safe Wi-Fi practices makes it much harder for you to be hacked. However, absolute prevention is difficult. You should still watch for signs of account compromise like fraudulent charges or password reset notices.
Here are a few things to do if you suspect you’ve been hacked:
- Change passwords for all accounts, starting with your email
- Place fraud alerts and monitor your credit reports
- Scan devices for malware or viruses
- Contact companies to lock or close compromised accounts
- Report the incident to the relevant authorities
No one can fully eliminate the risk of being hacked. But staying vigilant, following cybersecurity best practices, and acting quickly in response to red flags can help keep you maximally protected.