When it comes to online safety, people often find that suddenly they aren’t quite as prepared as they’d like to be. If you’re someone who owns a blog or an online page, how do you know when is the best time to level up your online safety level? Let’s talk about the difference between improving your situation before or after a crisis, and address some great ways to boost your online safety. 

Reactive improvements for Online Safety

Reactive improvements to your online security might sometimes be your only option. For instance, if you’ve sought out information on cybersecurity because you’ve recently been hacked, then you’re seeking to improve things on a reactive basis. Though it might not initially seem it, there are actually a few key benefits to improving your safety reactively. 

Patching weak spots 

Reactive improvement is a great way to ensure that you’re boosting the right elements of your safety net. You can start by looking at the attack you’ve recently undergone, and dissecting how it came to happen. By learning what parts of your system failed, you can ensure that those parts are stronger and more dependable before the next attack has chance to occur. 

Proactive improvements for Online Safety

Once a hacker gains access to your system, they can do a lot of damage, even if you catch them quickly. It’s better, therefore, to deny them access altogether. Here, let’s talk about some great proactive cybersecurity improvements. 

VPN 

A VPN is perhaps the most important improvement you could make for a system. Especially if that system involves two or more computers interacting with one another. If those machines use VPNs, the traffic going through them will be encrypted, and hackers cannot access it. 

VPNs can be an additional cost, but by exploring VPN deals, you can significantly reduce expenses. Additionally, you’ll save money in the long run by avoiding the financial and reputational damage caused by a cyberattack. 

Two-factor authentication 

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a way for a network to ensure the person using a given system is truly who they say they are. It works by adding a step to a login process and sending a passcode to a secondary device, typically a mobile phone. When that code is entered into the system, the login can proceed. This method is typically a free part of services offered by large companies like Google and Apple, so make sure to utilise it! 

Discrete passwords 

Discrete passwords are vitally important as using the same password across many devices leaves you very vulnerable. By having different passwords for each device, this ensures greater safety for your data. 

Tips to boost your online safety 

Here are some quick tips to ensure your online safety is at its best. 

• Ensure your passwords are long and strong, containing letters, numbers, and special characters. 
• Always install the latest app updates. 
• Look for a security certificate online – typically, these will be represented with a padlock icon in the address bar. 
• Regularly back up your data. Ransomware can lock your data away from you, so having a separate backup is very wise. 

Improving your online safety is always a good step to take, especially if you work online or remotely. Use the tips laid out above to ensure you’re as secure as possible.

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