5 Essential Ways To Stay Safe On Your Home Network

Despite its promises and usability, the internet can be a dangerous place. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a victim of it. Whether it’s identity theft, data compromise, phishing/vishing, a breach, or a dangerous website, there are always going to be some opportunists out there looking to cause trouble for unwary consumers. The good news is that you can do many simple things at home to protect yourself from cyber criminals better. Here are five essential ways to stay safe on your home network:

Education and Awareness

It might seem like an obvious thing, but education and awareness are one of the best preventative measures you can take to stay safe on what. Staying safe on the internet requires having knowledge of the dangers that are out there. Parents who want to protect their children can use parental protection software, set time limits, and limit their device access. But informing their kids about the dangers can keep them even safer. This applies to individuals as well. Knowledge is power. The more you know about how people use phishing scams, hack into systems, what type of data they’re looking for, and how they manipulate websites to appear legitimate, the more prepared you are for a cybersecurity issue. Children can be very vulnerable online, so taking the time to educate them about potential threats will keep them safe and give you peace of mind anytime you (or a family member) get online.

Implementing Firewalls and Network Security Into Your Home

In addition to educating yourself and your family about potential online threats, you must take some online security measures. Preventative measures such as a firewall are critical for internet security. Firewalls or software and hardware that can monitor incoming and outgoing traffic. They block suspicious activity. And they’re pretty easy to set up. Most computers come with some sort of firewall previously installed, but you can purchase a more powerful one depending on your needs.

Firewalls are like the first line of defense against potential viruses, malware, and security threats. When used in conjunction with other security software tools, they can prevent unauthorized access and ultimately keep you safe in the battle against online threats.

Adopting Comprehensive Security Suites

If a firewall is the first thing to set up to protect yourself online, then installing a security suite is the next logical step in your cybersecurity journey. To use one analogy: if a firewall is a gate, security software is a fully armed home security/intruder prevention system. A comprehensive security suite is a suite of software tools that provides protection against all types of malicious threats. And there are a lot of them, including viruses, worms, Trojans, and ransomware. Security software acts as a hub for managing online protection. Many of them include an antivirus program, personal data and ID protection, family monitoring, and more advanced features depending on a consumer’s needs. They work by monitoring computers and devices for suspicious activity, alerting you if something is compromising security and/or performance, and taking proactive measures to prevent them. Different security suites have their own advantages and disadvantages, so you’ll want to do plenty of research to determine what works best for you. But make no mistake: having one is pretty much essential in today’s modern tech landscape.

Regular Data Backups and Recovery Plans

In addition to viruses and malware, consumers can be affected by ransomware. Ransomware is insidious and can cause great damage to anyone affected by it. One of the things that experts recommend to aid in the recovery from ransomware attacks is to make regular—and frequent—backups. Data backups don’t just keep your data safe. They provide peace of mind with the simple fact that you can restore your important data in the event of an attack.

Any device in your home network, such as a streaming device, game console, Blu-ray player, or other IoT devices, can also benefit from backups. Making regular backups and having a recovery plan in place for using those backups to restore your data/files is all part of a common sense, comprehensive approach to cybersecurity that anyone can use at home.

Monitoring and Updating Your Personal Security

A comprehensive cybersecurity approach is the only way to stay safe online. Keeping your antivirus and security software up to date is part of that. Keeping your firewall turned on and installed properly is another. You can also use password managers like LastPass to create strong passwords for all accounts and prevent brute force attacks or phishing scams. They can trick you into revealing your passwords. Regular backups will also help. But none of that matters if you aren’t constantly monitoring and updating your personal security. That means you must check your financial statements, not reveal your personal details to others, and monitor your credit. You should also update your software regularly and consider using a VPN whenever possible. Using two-factor or multi-factor authentication is also a valuable tool for preventing cyber security issues. By taking your online security into your own hands and doing your due diligence in this area, you can keep yourself and your family safe whenever you’re using the internet.