McAfee Corporation

08/02/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/03/2022 03:43

How to Stay One Step Ahead of Hackers

Whether using the internet for play or work, you want to spend your time online enjoying the peace of mind that comes with having a secure network.

You don't want to contend with someone taking your personal data- whether it's credit cardinformation, passwords, or bank accountdetails - via malwareor a data breachon your Android, Windows,or AppleiOSdevice.

Fortunately, with some sensible precautions and simple steps, you can use your connected devices productively without worrying about cybercriminalsand malicious software. This article explains how to stop hackersfrom getting access to your sensitive data.

8 ways to protect your identity from hackers

You can take steps to protect your different computing and mobile devicesand operating systems. These steps can be divided into technological solutions and the right awareness and information to provide a comforting measure of self-protection.

It's like learning karate for self-defense, giving you confidence as you negotiate the wider world (and hoping that you never have to use it).

Use identity protection software

When it comes to identity protection software, McAfee provides a proven solution with our identity protection and privacyservices. The protection includes alerts if your sensitive informationis found on the dark web (up to 10 months sooner than other providers), personal datacleanup from sites gathering and selling your information, and an unlimited virtual public network (VPN) service that protects your privacy as you use public Wi-Fi networks.

You'll also get up to $1 million in identity theft coverage and hands-on restoration support to help you reclaim your identity.

Use complex passwords

Simple, obvious passwords and passcodes (like your street address, your birthday, your kids' or pets' names, or "1234" or "abcd") are easy for cybercriminalsto crack, giving them unwanted access to your private data.

The stronger your password, the better your protection. Some best password practices include:

  • Use a different password for all your online accounts, including your email accounts, social mediaplatforms, and bank accounts.
  • Create a password that's at least eight characters long, combining lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • Don't use consecutive keystrokes, such as "qwerty."
  • Don't share your passwords with anyone.
  • Avoid entering your password on unsecured public Wi-Fi, such as at an airport or in a coffee shop.

Regularly update passwords

It's important not to be a standing target. Just as you should use different passwords for everything, you should regularly change your passwords. You should do this a few times a year (although some cyber experts say this might not be necessary if you have a long and very complicated password).

If you have a number of passwords that you update often, it might be worth getting a password managerlike McAfee True Key to keep track of them. Not only will you not be faced with remembering all your different passwords or writing them down (also a no-no), but it can also help you create and store unique passwords.

The software uses the strongest encryptionalgorithms available to protect your passwords, scrambling them so no one else can access them. It'll also suggest new passwords and automatically log you into your online accountswith just one master password.

Use multi-factor authentication

Another important line of defense is multi-factor authentication(sometimes known as two-factor authentication). This system uses a password and a second piece of verification - often an SMSmessage sent to your Androiddevice or iPhone- to authenticate your identity.

This provides hard-to-beat protection even if a hackerhas your password. Besides receiving SMScodes, there are also code-generating apps and physical security keys.

Learn to spot potential scams

Thinking before you click on an email or text is a very important defense against phishingscams. Your bank won't send you an email or text notifying you that there's been suspicious activity on your account.

Does getting a large refund from your phone company sound too good to be true? It is. Similarly, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) won't text to tell you that you owe them money, and princes aren't going to give you a fortune out of the blue.

Internet users beware: If you're not absolutely certain that the text messageyou received is from a legitimate and trusted source, delete it. You can always contact the business or person directly to confirm that the message is legit.

Keep device software up to date

Any operating systemor app you use is open to malicious cyberattacks. This is why you should keep all your software up to date with the latest versions. Software developers are continually fixing holes in their products and offering cybersecuritypatches to make them as safe and hacker-proof as possible.

Make sure your software, firmware, and security settingsare up to date on your home's Wi-Fi router, as well. You can often change your settings to allow for automatic updates.

Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi

Sure, who doesn't like to go to a cafe, library, or hotel lobby to use the free Wi-Fi? But security is often weak in these public networks. If you open your online banking accountor access personal information, you may unwittingly be giving a personal invitation to eavesdropping cybercriminals.

This is where the bank-grade level of protection of McAfee Secure VPNcomes in, which automatically turns on when you need it and keeps you safe on public Wi-Fi networks.

Use encryption

Even if your device does get hacked, you can protect vital information on your Windows or macOS system with an encryptionprogram like BitLockeror FileVault. You can protect any hard driveyou use, including portable ones and USB keys.

It's also a good idea to only shop at encrypted websites marked with the prefix "HTTPS" in their URLs.

Discover how McAfee keeps you secure online

One of the best ways to surf the web in comfort while keeping hackersat bay is with the comprehensive solutions provided by McAfee Total Protection.

Your protection includes proactive measures (meaning we'll guide you to the best choices for prevention), early detection, and expert identity theft support.

This means you'll get identity monitoring, up to $1 million in identity theft coverage, lost wallet protection, premium antivirus software, a secure VPN, and personal dataremoval. In particular, our Personal DataCleanup service will help find and remove your personal information from data broker websites and people search sites.

With McAfee, you don't have to be afraid of hackers. Let us deal with them.