Protecting the security of computers and networks is important as it decreases the risk of data leakage. This is especially important for companies and enterprises, where maintaining confidentiality is essential. In order to protect employees and the company from hacker attacks and information leakage, special attention should be paid to protecting computer networks. In this article we will tell you how to ensure the security of your computer and computer network and keep them safe.
Sources of computer and network hacking threats
There are internal and external sources, which can be a threat to data leakage. The Internet is considered an external source of hacking threats. Users of the local network can use email services or receive information from the outside sources, even if they have no direct access to the Internet connection. Internal danger is caused by the company employees who can possibly be in contact with intruders, or are simply not very careful with privacy. Such people consciously or accidentally create perfect conditions for malware spreading inside the computer network. In addition, it is necessary to consider the low-quality or outdated hardware and software information processing tools as an internal source of potential threat. The vulnerability of these components can negate the security of a computer and network. Unfortunately, there is no single solution that can completely eliminate the risk of a data leak. However, today there are some methods, which could greatly reduce the likelihood of such problems.
Security Methods for Computer and Network
Below we will share with you the top 7 methods to protect your computer and network from hackers.
Make sure you update macOS
MacOS is constantly improving, and its protection against viruses and malware is increasing. A new list of threats and viruses is added to a special file for each new update of macOS. Such measures allow identifying most of the known viruses and malware. Therefore, do not ignore system requests for updates. Keep your macOS up to date.
Install a reliable antivirus software
Antivirus programs scan applications and computer files for viruses, worms, and trojans. If a danger is detected, the antivirus program completely deletes it before the computer and network are harmed. Since new viruses appear daily, it is important to choose an antivirus program with the ability to automatically update. Thus, new hacking threats are added to the list of viruses, and it protects your computer from new attacks. One of the examples of a reliable antivirus program is MacKeeper. You can easily scan your MacBook for viruses and malware, as well as delete unnecessary files and improve the performance of your computer with the help of this program.
Use only secure WI-FI networks
Do not use open Wi-Fi networks, as they make you an easy target for hackers who can “steal” your connection and download illegal files directly to your computer. Protect your Wi-Fi network with an encrypted password and consider updating your equipment every few years. Some old routers have vulnerabilities which have not been fixed since you have installed the routers. New equipment allows users to provide separate wireless access. In addition, they facilitate frequent password changes making this network more safe.
Turn on the Firewall
Make sure the Firewall is installed on your MacBook and it is turned on. The Firewall allows you to control and filter network traffic. By installing the Firewall, you can limit the access of installed applications to the Internet. You can prohibit (block) the access of such applications to the network. This way you can easily block the work of hidden trojans and spyware modules.
Create backups
One of the best ways to protect your computer and files from malicious attacks is to back up regularly. If you are worried about the damage and hacking of personal data, you should regularly create at least two backups – one local (offline) copy and one copy in the cloud. In case of unforeseen situations, you can restore data from a backup copy of your computer and network to use it again.
Create strong passwords and use a password manager
If you want to protect your computer and network from hacking or data leakage, you need to create unique and crack-resistant complex passwords for access to all your accounts, email and other services. It is important also to store them in Keychain, so that you will have access to all your passwords and logins whenever you need. You should always remember, if hackers receive a password for at least one of your accounts, they will immediately try to apply it to all other accounts. Therefore, the use of unique strong passwords increases your protection and prevents the risk of spreading viruses.
Keep FileVault turned on
OS X comes with built-in encryption with the help of FileVault. If you decide to turn it on, you will need a username and password or recovery key to view any data on your computer. You can turn on this encryption in the settings section of your MacBook. After that, all internal storage is encrypted, and the system will require a password for any access to the data.
Train your staff
It has long been known that many hackers resort to social engineering methods to get access to the confidential information kept in your computer and network. It is very important to properly teach them the basics of computer literacy and information protection rules, so that your employees know how not to fall for the bait of cybercriminals. A training program for information security should be designed to cover all the security needs of a particular organization.
Conclusion
Awareness of what and how we do online decreases the risk of cyber threats. It is important to improve your knowledge in the sphere of information security and use the proper software to keep your computer and network safe. Hackers usually attack the weakest points, and if your computer and network system is well protected, cybercriminals will most likely just switch to a less secure victim.
