How to Protect Your Home Business from Online Threats Today January 6, 2017Expert Blogs, FeaturedOff

Regardless of the industry your home business is in, you no doubt use computer systems on a daily basis for your work, whether it’s to check emails, process orders, interact with customers, conduct research, complete admin tasks, sort out your finances, or much more.

If you’re like most entrepreneurs who run a venture from home, you don’t have an IT person or department on hand all the time to safeguard your devices, and likely also try not to spend much money on outsourcing these types of services. However, with the amount of hacking issues and related viruses, malware threats, spyware, ransomware, and other scams used by digital thieves these days, it is very important to make sure that all of your internet-enabled gadgets are as protected as possible.

If you want to start taking proper precautions to protect your business (and personal) information from hackers, as well as the details of your customers, the sooner you secure your systems the better. Read on for some handy ways to keep cybercriminals from your systems today.

Install Security Software
While it might be a simple step, installing security software on your devices is also one of the best, and most effective, things you can do to protect your data. There are many different types of quality software options on the market to choose from, but it is best to opt for those which cover a variety of things, such as anti-malware, antivirus, anti-spam, and anti-spyware protection.

As well, with the rise in ransomware (whereby hackers hold information “hostage” and then get owners to pay a ransom for access to it again), it is also very important to make sure you have some consumer ransomware protection too.

As you compare various software products, search for professional-grade options that have been specifically design for business usage, and that have many different features. For instance, try to select software which not only provides comprehensive virus and other protection, and maintains user privacy online, but that also blocks any harmful emails, attachments, and websites you might come across.

Other coverage that should be included is that which can identify and protect against applications which have been created to steal computer data; and which will work to keep all of your online data (think banking inputs, shopping carts, and social media pages) safe from prying eyes.

Put in Firewalls
Another good method for securing your networks, devices, and sensitive information is to install firewalls on your computer systems. These are designed as barriers against cybercriminals by creating a type of “shell” that sits around a system and makes it much harder for hackers to break into. Firewalls also are used to filter out safe information from potential threats which come into your systems.

While you may very well find that your computers already have built-in firewalls installed on them, it’s possible that these firewalls have not come automatically enabled, and will need to be activated. Check all of your devices to be sure. As well, even if you have a firewall that has come with your system, keep in mind that reputable, third-party software can tend to be more comprehensive and is usually worth the upgrade.

Use Comprehensive Passwords on all Devices
If you’re someone who tends to forget passwords and thereby uses simple codes such as “admin,” “123456,” “password,” or the like on your computers, it’s time to change your habits. Many hackers gain quick access to business information every day simply because so many people don’t actually use proper passwords on their devices.

The best types of passwords are those made up of between eight and 12 characters, and include a variety of symbols, numbers, and upper and lower-case letters. This all considerably decreases the chances that a hacker will be able to crack your codes.

You can also safeguard your business data by using different passwords across your various devices, systems, and websites, so that if a cybercriminal happens to get access to one of your codes, not all of your information will be compromised. If you don’t know how you’ll remember multiple passwords, then simply invest in a password manager to do the job for you.

Update Systems Often
Lastly, you need to be aware that information is unlikely to be kept nice and secure if you don’t update all of your computer systems often. This covers the firewalls and security software you have installed, as well as the operating systems and browser plug-ins you use, such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Firefox.

It is best to set your computers to automatically update whenever releases occur, but at the bare minimum make sure that you will receive an alert when new releases become available so that you can update systems as soon as possible.

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