IT security is as important as ever before but many breaches happen due to avoidable blunders, with some simple steps these can be averted. Here are the top five common mistakes in IT security and how to combat them.
Installing or updating antivirus software can be a chore to do but it is one of the best ways to protect your computer. Having out of date security software or worse none at all can often lead to data loss or even information theft, always use trusted, up to date programs to protect your personal details.
Another common mistake can involve the storing of sensitive information on devices that are easily lost or stolen. Many people save their data onto portable flash drives without thinking of the consequences of this information falling into the wrong hands. Laptops and iPads can also be easily lost or stolen and the same problem affects these devices, the solution is to download specific software to encrypt files that contain delicate information.
Wi-Fi networks are incredibly vulnerable to attack and yet there are still so many unprotected open networks out there. Any security is better than none at all but it is recommended to use the more modern WPA2 over the less secure WPA or WEP encryptions. As well as this make sure you choose a sensible password for your encryptions that cannot be easily guessed.
On the subject of passwords, they are much easier to crack than most people think and so you should try to make it as difficult as possible for potential hackers to guess. Many people make the mistake of using the same password for different accounts, this can lead to someone potentially stealing all of your private details. The best way to deter intruders is to use obscure passwords with number, letters of different cases and symbols and of course use different ones for different accounts.
One of the most common security slip-ups is not using an adequate firewall to protect your computer from external intrusion. Many people rely on inbuilt firewalls to completely guard against hackers but it would be prudent to use one from an established company to make sure you have full protection.
