More than 60 percent of Americans have experienced a major data breach. Despite this, many continue to practice unsafe internet habits. From re-using the same passwords to clicking questionable links, small habits that seem harmless can leave your personal information at risk — and even lead to identity theft.
In 2020, victims of identity fraud in the U.S. lost more than $56 billion. Protecting yourself from cyber criminals means increasing your own cybersecurity knowledge and investing in tools designed to stop threats in their tracks. You can get a VPN to change your IP address and If you're ready to increase your personal cybersecurity in 2022, keep reading for a few tips.
Update Your Devices
If you've ever been in the middle of scrolling through social media on your phone, or were trying to finish a work project on your laptop, and had a notice pop up asking you to run an update on your device, you know how tempting it is to ignore it. But while you can wait until later in the day to run the update at a more convenient time, it's important to complete all software updates on all devices as soon as possible.
Software updates often feature security updates designed to help fix vulnerabilities discovered by developers since the last update. Failure to keep your devices updated puts you at unnecessary risk of falling victim to cyber criminals.
Choose Stronger Passwords
Experts believe that as much as 83 percent of all Americans are currently using weak passwords; in fact, the most popular password in the U.S. is "123456," according to NordPass. But using a simple, easy-to-guess number sequence isn't the only way to have a weak password. Using the same password on multiple accounts, using one with personal meaning that someone might be able to guess, like your birthdate, or failing to update your passwords regularly can also put your accounts at risk.
Choosing stronger passwords is one of the simplest ways to safeguard your personal information. To create a better password, use a mix of numbers and letters, upper-case and lower-case letters, and symbols, where allowed. Using a random mix is a great way to choose a unique password, but can be difficult to remember. If you need to be able to memorize your passwords, consider using a combination of two random words, or create your own unique nonsense word.
Invest in Cybersecurity and Identity Theft Protection
Regardless of your personal cybersecurity knowledge or savvy web browsing habits, you may still be at risk of identity theft. Cyber criminals are honing their tactics each and every day, and implementing new strategies for stealing personal information. Luckily, investing in the right cybersecurity and indeitity theft protection tools can help.
When you invest in Norton with LifeLock, you get around-the-clock, top-tier protection on all of your devices. You'll also get a VPN that makes it easier to surf the web safely from anywhere. With several LifeLock plans to choose from, you can pick the one that offers the personalized protection you need. These tools are the perfect addition to other cybersecurity measures that you can implement yourself.
Up Your Personal Cybersecurity
Improving your personal cybersecurity has never been more important. If you want to protect yourself from identity theft and protect your personal information, choosing stronger passwords, running all software updates and investing in top-tier cybersecurity tools is a great choice.
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