Why is it essential to protect your computer against cyber attacks?

The most common cyber myth says “It won’t happen to me”. However, just because we do not see a physical threat in front of us, does not mean that we should not protect ourselves online.

Imagine that you receive an email to confirm your booking of the hotel for your summer holiday. It’s one week before the trip so you’re eager to do so. There is a confirmation number and all the information about your trip in that email and you just need to verify your debit card details. If you are to do so, attackers will have all the information they need to use your card for their purposes.

Although you might think you are wise enough to recognize the threat of phishing spam or prevent other types of cyber attacks, it turns out that most people are taken advantage of on a regular basis.

According to Kaspersky, research showed that there were 50% more attack attempts in 2021 than in 2020. It’s easy to think that cyber security is required only for large organizations, but in fact, it is vital for individuals and businesses of all sizes. Attacks did not only increase in number but also became more sophisticated as well. As a result, prevention is essential for every individual or organization.

What is the reason behind the more frequent cyber attacks?

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of work-from-home employees increased significantly which means that many devices became unpatched in 2020. More possibilities for cybercriminals were created. Cybersecurity was also affected by the war in Ukraine. The current digital transformation requires us to take serious measures because traditional cyber knowledge is currently not working.

What is a cyber attack and what is the harm for individuals and businesses?

A cyber attack is a malicious attempt to steal data and breach into a weak computer system so as to launch additional attacks disabling computers. Unsuspecting victim hands over valuable information such as credit card details, intellectual property, or passwords which can lead to losses.

Types of cyber attacks may vary – from phishing to malware such as Trojans, Spyware, or Ransomware, software that installs itself on your device without permission.

Safeguarding your computer is crucial for data protection, financial security, identity theft prevention, intellectual property protection, legal implications in cases your compromised computer can be used for illegal activities, and last but not least, emotional and psychological impact. Let’s not forget that being a victim of a cyber attack include stress and one can feel violated. A piece of mind can be maintained as you protect your device beforehand.

What to do during a cyber attack?

The most important thing is to act fast:

• Disconnect your device from the internet to prevent further damage.
• Change your passwords for emails, banking, and social media.
• Check your financial statements and if you notice suspicious transactions, immediately call the financial institution.
• Seek professional help. Eagletech Computers is one of the most successful IT and cybersecurity experts. We can help you handle the risky situation with care.

How do we stay safe?

Before even knowing what a cyber attack is and how to recognize it, we should secure our computers so that we do not become victims of cybercriminals. It takes significant time, money, and effort to recover from a cyber attack. Setting up systems to prevent future threats would be the key to staying safe.

1. Educate yourself about cyber security

The most basic rules you can follow are to:

• Use strong and unique passwords for each online platform
• Check if the email address of each received email is valid
• Check the links before clicking them
• Check the request via a phone call first. Think twice before giving away sensitive information. If you are asked to confirm personal or credit card information, you should never do it.
• Backup your data on an external hard drive or cloud storage to ensure recovering your files.

2. Keep your software and operating systems up to date

If your systems are not up to date, it leaves weaknesses on your devices. Hackers take advantage of such weak devices and exploit these weaknesses to gain access to your network.

3. Install a Firewall

Firewalls and proxy servers can block insecure services before they do any damage. Placing your network behind such firewall is one of the best ways to defend yourself from cyber criminals.

We at Eagletech Computers are able to provide you with firewall solutions that will protect your device from online threats. We can configure it on your device to block any unauthorized access.

4. Install an Antivirus Program

An installed antivirus program on your computer gives you an extra layer of protection over your data. If you want to find out more about why it is essential to have one on your device, read more here.

If you want to protect your computer with the latest antivirus protection, we can lend you a hand in that. Eagletech Computers can install an up-to-date Kaspersky Antivirus on your devices so that you can remain safe from the latest threats and worry less.

However, if it happens that you are already under attack, we can help you with the full removal of spyware and viruses, and any other malware, from your device. Virus protection and removal are what we do best.

5. Protect your VPN

After the pandemic, it turned out that one of the most targeted vulnerabilities hides in VPNs.

We at Eagletech, offer a wide range of VPN services assuring your data would be kept safe and secure. It is perfect for businesses and individual users who need to keep their information confidential. Our VPNs are easy and quick to use.

These are one of the most common cybersecurity practices you can use to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a cyber attack.

Making sure your computer is well protected, is crucial to ensure your private, professional, and financial well-being. Be proactive. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you protect your computer against cyber attacks in the future.