How To Protect Your Accounts From Cybercriminals

Cybercrimes are ongoing threats that continuously evolve as technology evolves. You can never predict when your account will be attacked by a cyber-criminal. Cyberattacks are no longer limited to big corporations or government sites. Small businesses and individuals are not safe from cybercrimes. A small business may find it harder to recover from a security incident. As an SMB it is important to understand how to protect your accounts from cybercriminals.

How cybercriminals crack passwords

Cybercriminals use specific tools to automate the password cracking process by running through all possible combinations until they find the right one. A password with a minimum of 6 characters and with all lowercase letters, will only take a maximum of 308,915,776 attempts to crack. This may seem a huge number of attempts, but for password cracking tools this is an effortless task. A basic password with all lowercase letters can be cracked in less than 0.29 milliseconds. So what can you do to protect your accounts from cybercriminals? Here’s how.

Ways to make your account more secure

Create strong passwords

Make sure you don’t repeat your passwords on different sites, and they all are as strong as possible. Research proves a strong password is at least 12 characters long with at least two or three different types of characters that are of lowercase, uppercase, digits and symbols. Also, put these characters in unpredictable places. It is also recommended to use no capital letters at the beginning and no digits or symbols clustered at the end.

Another method to set a strong password is to combine partial 2-4 unrelated words and incorporate other types of characters to it. You should also make sure you change your passwords regularly.

Manage password using a password manager

Having many random, secure passwords can be difficult to manage. For managing and safekeeping all these passwords, you can use a password manager like LastPass or Dashlane. This way, you can easily manage all your passwords. Now many password managers are capable of generating randomised strong passwords and can also run security audits to evaluate whether your passwords are weak or used across multiple times.

Learn more about password managers.

Implement two-factor authentication

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) as an extra layer of security measure. With 2FA, after you enter credentials, you will be asked to enter a verification code, which is usually sent by text message to your phone. This way, hackers can’t access the data even though they crack the password.

Make sure all your software are updated

Cybercriminals are always known to utilize vulnerabilities, or flaws, in your software to gain access to your system. So, if your browser, operating system, or apps are out-of-date, the software might not be safe anymore. Patching those vulnerabilities and flaws can help you from becoming a cybercrime target. Patching is especially essential for your operating systems and internet security software.

Restrict access to your data

Removing account access for non-essential apps gives better protection to your sensitive information. Also, restrict access for apps that use less secure sign-in technology.

Remove unwanted apps & browser extensions

More apps on your device can make you more vulnerable. On devices that have access to confidential information, install only necessary apps and browser extensions. Avoid installing unknown apps and apps from unsecured sources to protect your device and valuable information.

Manage your social media settings

Social engineering cybercriminals can often gain your personal information with just a few data points, so the less you share publicly, the safer. They use your information given in the social sites to impersonate you or trick you. So it’s essential to manage your social media settings and restrict who all can access your profile details. Hackers will use your pet’s name that you posted or reveal your mother’s maiden name, which can be the answer to two common security questions.

Avoid suspicious requests

Never share your passwords with anyone. Genuine and professional service providers, be it any service, will never ask for your password in an email, message, or phone call. So do not reply to suspicious emails, texts, instant messages or phone calls that ask for your personal or financial information. Avoid clicking links in emails, messages, webpages, or pop-ups from untrustworthy or suspicious websites or senders. These measures can help you to protect their accounts from cybercriminals and minimise cyber-attacks before they happen. For a complete strategy on cybersecurity, you can contact us or email at cybersecurity@computingaustralia.group. With over 20 years of experience, Computing Australia is competent in managing cybersecurity threats for businesses of all sizes. Our cybersecurity experts in Perth are 24/7 available to assist you.

Jargon Buster

Social engineering – A manipulation technique that utilises human error to gain private information, access, or valuables. E.g. Phishing
Browser extensions – A small software application that adds functionality to a web browser. E.g. AdBlock