(Last Updated On: June 30, 2022)

In 2021, the greatest threat to any business is a breach of data security. Data security means the protection of digital data. Against what? Anything from illegal access, corruption, to even theft. 

Nowadays, such incidents are too common. This is because most businesses now work online. The rise in remote work and digital progress comes with new demands. Today to run a good business, you must ensure a security suite on your Cox service internet packages. The most vital element is data security, but unfortunately, many businesses ignore it.

Here are some methods that you can use to protect yourself against cybercrime threats. 

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords serve as your shield against cybercrime threats. A lot of times people use weak passwords that can be easily guessed by looking at their social media. For example, lots of people use their name with their year of birth as a password. You can guess such passwords by going through anyone’s Facebook account. If you use a weak password like the one explained in the example, your account is at risk of hackers. In order to prevent this from happening, make sure to keep a password that is made up of alphabets, numbers, and special characters.  

Use Multi-Factor Authentication  

Multi-Factor Authentication puts another blanket of security on your account. If you have turned on Multi-Factor Authentication, whenever you log in to your account, you’ll be prompted to enter another code sent to your mobile or authenticator. This works as a great protection, even if a hacker has somehow gained access to your password. However, make sure to not share the Multi-Factor Authentication code with anyone, particularly if you are not trying to log in to your account. This normally means someone is trying to access your account and failing. You’d liked it to stay that way.  

Update Your Operating System  

Hackers are always trying to somehow exploit a loophole in system code in order to gain access to your system. Make sure you keep your Operating System up to date so that the System developers can close all such loopholes. This is particularly relevant at this time as Microsoft has found a crucial security flaw in the Windows 10 printer code that allows hackers access to your system. Microsoft has issued immediate security warning to its users to update their Operating System to the latest update to protect their data.  

Cover Your Webcam and Mic with Tape  

In 2016, an image of Mark Zuckerberg showed that he had put tape over his laptop’s webcam and microphone. If Zuckerberg, a world-class coder and co-founder of the largest social media Platform covered his camera and microphone, you should too. Intelligence Agencies, or common hackers might gain access to your camera and microphone, therefore it is good practice to cover them up, to protect your privacy.  

Don’t Open Emails from Non-Verified Sources  

A lot of times, cybercrime victims accidentally open emails from non-verified sources. This act is phishing, where a hacker impersonates a bank or website, and sends a legit looking email to you. While this email might be near indistinguishable from that of a verified source, if you respond to this fake email, you end up giving your sensitive data to a hacker. Such data includes passwords, social security numbers, bank account details, and credit card details. Make sure you only reply to those emails who you are absolutely sure about.  

Don’t Put Sensitive Information on Websites Without HTTPS  

HTTPS is an encryption protocol that can be seen on most websites. This protocol ensures that all communication between you and the website is secure and no hacker can eaves drop on your sensitive data. It appears as a lock in the address bar of your web browser. So, before you put your credit card data to make a purchase online, make sure you check if the website has HTTPS lock enabled. If the HTTPS lock is disabled or missing, don’t put in your sensitive data, as it might fall into the hands of a hacker.