Avoid Hacking: Tips from an IT Company

Are you prepared to deal with potential hacking of your computer or social media platforms?

We decided to take a page from our sister company, Network Services Group, and share their expert advice on protecting yourself from cyber-attacks:

Be aware, be suspicious, be vigilant. Tricking you into giving out personal information is what scammers and hackers do best. Don’t give out any passwords without first verifying the person you’re talking to is legitimate. 

Use strong passwords. We recommend at least eight characters, with a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and punctuation.

Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts. Your email is a gateway to most of your other passwords, especially with the “forgot password” function. Use a unique and strong password for your email account and change it regularly.

Know where your data is saved, and make sure it is backed up. Ransomware is a new breed of virus/malware, and once a hacker infects your machine, they actively seek out all of your data files and encrypt them, rendering them useless. Make sure your data is backed up so in the case of a security breach, you still have access to it.

Use extreme care when opening attachments or downloads. Be cautious when clicking on links or buttons contained within emails or social media messages. If you’re concerned, visit the requesting site/profile by manually typing the URL. Never click on an unknown link as it may direct you to a phishing site. Never open attachments from an unknown or suspicious source.

 

Get More Tips from an Ann Arbor SEO Company

When Michigan SEO Group manages your website and social media, we do everything in our power to secure your data and keep out hackers. If you’re looking at Ann Arbor SEO Companies, reach out to our team here or call (877) 815-6974 to get started.