There’s been a lot in the news lately about identity theft and data breaches; the Federal Trade Commission lists, Equifax, Yahoo and the IRS, just to name a few. Any of these breaches leaves your information open to criminals, also known as identity theft. However, information can also get into the wrong hands when cyber-attackers hack into your company network. So what can you do about it?
Prevent ID Theft
Preventing Identity theft and cyber-attacks to the company involves making simple but crucial decisions throughout your workflow. The Federal Bureau of Investigation lists six easy but effective ways to limit your risk of being a victim of cyber-attacks and identity theft.
· Keep your firewall turned on:
o Your firewall can be in the form of software or hardware protection.
o Check with your IT support to ensure the firewall is protecting properly and updated.
· Install and maintain antivirus software:
o This keeps the virus from further infecting your computer and removes them.
o Make sure that your antivirus software is updated. Most have the ability to update automatically.
· Install and maintain antispyware technology:
o Spyware collects data from your computer without your consent.
o Operating systems can offer free antispyware software. There is also inexpensive software to purchase.
o Beware of downloading free antispyware software online. Some are fake and can actually contain the spyware itself.
· Maintain your Operating system:
o Updates keep your security software up-to-date; keeping hackers at bay.
· Be vigilant about what you download:
o Do not open attachments from unknown email addresses
o Be careful of forwarded messages. They can contain cyberattacks as well.
o Be careful of what websites you download from. Make sure they are reputable.
· Turn off your computer:
o This severs the connection for hackers to get their malicious code onto your computer.
By using these six methods, you can help manage your risk of cyber-attacks and identity theft. If you have more questions about your specific security infrastructure, talk to your IT professionals. I hope you enjoyed this article.