5 Essential Tips for Practising Good Cybersecurity in Your Daily Life
We focus a lot on business in this blog, but there’s also personal life to consider when it comes to cybersecurity.
In a digital world, everything we do leaves an electronic signature. While this is a reality of modern life, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of personal security breaches.
In a digital world, everything we do leaves an electronic signature. While this is a reality of modern life, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of personal security breaches.
Here are five essential tips to enhance your personal cybersecurity:
- Rename Your Phone
Consider renaming your phone. Giving your device a generic name, like ‘Phone,’ instead of something specific like ‘Sarah’s iPhone 12,’ protects you from exposing personal details to strangers. This can prevent potential street criminals from targeting you based on your phone model or even your name. Cybersecurity is closely tied to physical security, so keep your device’s name anonymous to stay safer. - Use a VPN
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your data from your device to the VPN provider, protecting your information on public Wi-Fi networks. VPNs are useful for more than just accessing streaming services in other countries—they secure your data from potential hackers, especially in public spaces. This way, bad actors, hackers, and even government agencies cannot view your data in transit. - Don’t Reuse Passwords
Your password’s security is only as strong as the least secure website you use it on. Reusing passwords across multiple sites puts your data at risk if one of those sites gets breached. Hackers could gain access to all accounts where you’ve used that password. Avoid this risk by using unique passwords for each account. Consider using a password manager to keep track of your credentials securely. - Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. With 2FA, even if someone has your password, they would still need a secondary code—sent to an app, not just through text or email, as these can be insecure—to access your account. 2FA helps protect you from unauthorised access and alerts you if someone is trying to get into your account. - Create a High-Trust Device for Financial Transactions
Consider dedicating a separate device and email address exclusively for financial transactions. This device, which could be a low-cost Chromebook, should be used only for online banking, stock trading, and similar activities. Using a unique email address just for financial transactions reduces phishing risk and helps maintain security by limiting account access to that one device.
Cybersecurity is always a balance between security and convenience. While these tips may add a bit of inconvenience, each step goes a long way in protecting your digital life. A little extra effort now can save a lot of trouble later. Stay secure!