Top 5 VITAL Tips to Avoid Getting Hacked – GearUP^

The first thing you need to do preemptively – in case you’re ever a victim of a cyberattack, is to back up your important files on a regular basis.

It doesn’t really matter HOW you want to do it – a free cloud service, external hard drive, USB thumbdrive, or what have you – but as long as you do SOMETHING, you’ll minimize the damage done by getting hit with a virus, ransomware, phishing scam, and so on. On all your devices – like smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops – back up your files regularly. Just in case.
If you back-up files to an external hard drive, it’s recommended to make a duplicate or triplicate onto additional drives – just in case one drive fails in the future -- and keep them in different places instead of the same room as your computer because in the event of flood or fire, your back-up could be destroyed along with the original.

On all your devices, you need good anti-malware, which is short for malicious software.

Just as you wouldn't leave the front door to your home unlocked, you shouldn't let yourself be vulnerable to attacks on your digital devices. There are many threats out there today so you need to have reliable antimalware software installed. Personally, I use ESET Internet Security, as it’s available for multiple devices, including Android phones, runs in the background, yet still can identify, quarantine and delete any suspicious activity.

Have GOOD passwords for all of your online activity.

A good password is at least seven characters long and a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. When logging into web services, opt for two-step verification (also referredto as two-step authentication), which means you'll not only need your password to access your online account but also a one-time code sent to your mobile phone, to confirm it's really you. On your mobile device, be sure to log on with a PIN code, password, pattern or biometrics login (such as your fingertip or iris scan) to confirm it’s really you.

On your smartphone, set up remote wipe if you haven’t done so already.

If your device goes missing, you can remotely lock it, display a message (like “Please call me for a reward”), wipe the data clean, or track it on an online map – but you need to set this up ahead of time. Free services include Find My iPhone (for iPhone and iPad) and Android Device Manager (for Android phones for the likes of Samsung, Huawei, LG, Motorola, HTC, and so on). Always work with authorities to retrieve a stolen phone rather than attempting it on your own.

Be cautious with public Wi-Fi: Airports, hotels and coffee shops offer free Wi-Fi, but keep in mind these “hotspots” are sometimes a target by cyber-thieves out to steal your data. Good anti-malware can detect and stop an intruder, and to err on the side of caution only stick to basic tasks like reading the news or streaming music or video. Another tip: consider using a VPN – virtual private network – on your devices to browse the web anonymously, and thus fly under a hacker’s radar. Or use your smartphone’s cellular connection as a personal hotspot to access the Internet.

And finally, common sense prevails, too.

If you get an email, text message, or pop-up message from a company that asks you to confirm personal or financial information – even if it looks legit -- it’s likely a scam, so don’treply and don’t tap or click on any link or attachment in the message. Your bank, financial institution or credible online payment service (such as PayPal) will never ask for sensitive information via email or text message. When in doubt, call your bank or credit card company directly. Furthermore, if someone calls you and says they’re from Microsoft or an IT department and says they detected a problem and they need you to follow some instructions to fix it, it’s also a scam, and hang up on them immediately.

Between some good passwords, great software and applying a little common sense, you can remain protected from the many different cybersecurity threats out there today.

Hey, thanks for watching Gear Up; I'm Marc Saltzman. Let us know in the comments section what tech products you’d like us to review going forward on WatchMojo. And for more tech-tastic lists, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com. Ciao for now.