Posted On 11 Jun 2020

Security breaches in the corporate environment have been going on for a long time. Many people have had their identity, credit card, and private business information stolen by cybercriminals.

Email is one of the most common ways hackers can use to get into your system. Protect yourself and your business by following these five tips.

Use Two-Factor Authentication:
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is an effective security measure that requires you to input another piece of information apart from your password. This could be a secret question – a secret code sent to you by SMS or email verification. Not all email service providers offer 2FA, so make sure to check and choose one that does. It will go and a long way to protect your data.

Do Not Underestimate the Power of a Good Password
Why in the world are you still using your birthday as your password? Google found in a study that people are still using simple passwords like 123456. That’s a recipe for disaster. It would be best if you changed your password habits. Use a password manager like 1Password to create stronger passwords for all your accounts. When choosing a password, use a mixture of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Never write your passwords down, share it with anyone, or use one password for different accounts.

Use Encrypted Email Services:
You might think that some of the world’s biggest companies also have the best security, but that is not entirely so. Big companies like Yahoo!, Tumblr and LinkedIn have all suffered security breaches. Consider using an email service provider with end-to-end or zero-access encryption. This will protect you in the possible case of any security breach.

Watch out for Phishing Attacks:
Phishing is one of the most common ways cyber attackers get their victims. You will usually receive an email that looks real, asking you to download an attachment or click a link. Sometimes they would pose a technical team from an organization asking you to insert your password or personal information for some backend maintenance. Always be on guard when you see emails like this. They are usually riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. Also, avoid download files from sources you don’t know.

Keep Your Devices Safe.
Cyberattacks are not limited to the technically gifted. Someone could easily hack into your systems by stealing your hardware. Protect your phones, tabs, and laptops at all times, especially when you are traveling. Make sure all your devices are password-protected and definitely without a ‘123456’ type of password.