DocAndersen
Why should I care about Cyber Security? First of all, everyone that visits this post has opened a door on their computer. The fastest way to attack a computer is via the computer’s web browser. I am not saying this to scare you. The reality is several things will expose you to someone who wants to hack your computer if you are not careful.
- Always update your computer, when you see that you have updates from Linux, Microsoft or Apple always do the updates!
- Always update your virus scanner!
- Always scan your computer for viruses!
- Many good free Malware scanners have both Malware and Virus scanning on your computer.
- Change your passwords often.
- Change your passwords for the Money site way more often. (Virily is a money site, either PayPal or Payoneer connected). That includes your bank and other financial sites!
The risk is real. The reality is that hackers, for the most part, aren’t chasing individuals. They will, if you are not careful, get you with what is called ransomware. What that does is encrypts every file on your computer. You won’t be able to use any file until they are decrypted. You get an email from the hacker asking for money (anywhere from 50 dollars to 1400 dollars) and you will get your files back once that amount is paid. You can recover from that. The easiest way is to have a full offline backup of your data. Following steps 1-6 above will reduce your risk. There are more things you can do beyond 1-6 that I have listed below.
- Have an offline copy of your files (second hard drive) don’t have it online very often.
- Don’t click on a link in an email or chat window unless you can see the full link!
- Be aware of the list of “things to know” below!
- Governments do not contact people and leave threatening voice mails demanding money right away!
- Apple sends emails, but their links always end in Apple.com. The same is true of all other vendors. Their emails don’t end in company.com/blank.php/somethingelse.com
- You can right-click on any URL to see all of it in a window before you click on it!
We must stay vigilant and aware. Cyber Security starts with you!!!!
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Do you change your passwords at least once every 3 months?
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Yes
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No
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Everytime we download apps, everytime we open a link, we expose ourselves to risk. There are several attempts on my email accounts. But permission to open is course through my phone which means if the person does not actually have the phone that allows another device connection, he or she cannot access it.
We pay the price one way or another ?
sadly the technology to clone a phone has gotten really good.
Then we pick the good from bad. Better this technology than having to line up just to call somebody from the other side of planet ?
as a wise man once told me. Your ethics only matter if you can live with them.
I just changed all my passwords, I am very careful about money transfer online. I do it only on trusted sites.
that is awesome, and always being careful is a good thing!
security and maintenance are the responsibility of the owner
that is so very true! the issue of course is do people actually do it!
they will or they will pay the price
I never update the system of my desktop because it will just make it run slower.
Would you put on a blindfold and run across the street?
you need to update your computer pal! Yes it may be slower, but you will be safer!
Thanks for the note, dear friend …. on some things I change it occasionally on some but I have it for years now …. how can I find out my password? This is impossible for me
passwords are often confusing, i understand. For virily it is in your profile. You can also change it there!
I’ve already changed it on Virily, dear friend
I am proud of you (not that you need me to be proud of you)!!!!
But I am grateful for all your warnings and willingness to help every step of the way …. thank you very much, dear friend
the safer we all are, the easier it is to worry about other things!
Thanks for sharing the alerts. We have to be really careful on the web. There are more and more fraudsters.
sadly there are more and you are right.
Great tips and reminders! I particularly hate these spam email and scam call schemes where they use people’s fear to get money!
it is really sad sometimes what people will do
I do change my passwords often. Thanks for the reminder.
just want to make sure everyone is safe online this holiday season. Or safer!