Cybercrime reportedly cost the US $2 trillion in 2019 alone. Cybersecurity has a huge impact on our daily lives and the proliferation of our reliance on technology will mean it continues to play a crucial part in the coming years. It is widely known that the smartphones in our pockets have greater computing power than the Apollo missions to the Moon had aboard their space shuttles, and in 2019, our reliance on the devices we use on a daily basis is unprecedented. We store all manner of financial and personal details on our phones, laptops, tablets, and PCs. Suffice to say, our personal data falling into the wrong hands could have disastrous consequences. And even though there are companies like DriveSavers who can come to the rescue and retrieve any lost data, we still want to remove the risk of even losing it in the first place! So, how can we protect our devices against hackers and cybercriminals looking to infiltrate our data?

• Always use complicated passwords

Relying on using the same password for more than one account or device is one way to heighten your risk of becoming a victim of cyber-crime. Using strong automatically generated alphanumeric passwords and then saving them in password management software is one of the safest ways to ensure your data is harder to crack.

• Stay on top of security trends

In the fast-paced industry of cybersecurity, nothing stays the same for long and what was safe last year may well be outdated information today. One way to stay safe is to keep abreast of industry news. Visit the Secure Data Recovery blog to find out more about how you can protect yourself from cybercrime and keep your personal information out of the wrong hands.

• Keep your devices updated

Cybercriminals often prey on the inherent weaknesses in software and if yours isn’t regularly updated it’s at risk. Software developers are constantly devising new and more impenetrable ways for their users to store data and like a game of cat and mouse, cybercriminals are trying to crack the code. Storing your software on phones, laptops & tablets allows you to stay one step ahead, keeping your personal data as safe and secure as it can be.

• Make sure your home network is secure

Using an encrypted password and a VPN at home will mean that your data, even if intercepted by a hacker, will be impossible to understand. A VPN encrypts data leaving your network, so if you’re sending sensitive financial or personal information, this is a really strong step to take to make your home network as secure as it possibly can be. If you need to find the best VPN for your home, look at the reviews on sites like www.alwaysvpn.com to narrow down your choices.

• Be careful where you connect

Although Wi-Fi is available pretty much everywhere these days, it’s not always secure. Cybercriminals can exploit weaknesses in public networks meaning the data you’re sharing via Wi-Fi can be captured. Take care to use networks only in trusted places and where possible, only send and receive confidential emails on your home network.

Cybersecurity is a huge issue globally and there is certainly not a one-step solution to remain safe. Taking precautions on where you access the internet and share data as well as being mindful of protecting your devices will go some way towards keeping your information and data away from the hands of cybercriminals and hackers who might use it to cause harm.