Good Cyber Hygiene Habits to Help Stay Safe Online

Posted on: Sep 14, 2022 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Good Cyber Hygiene Habits to Help Stay Safe Online

Have you ever come across the term “Cyber Hygiene”? Well, it is something which refers to the steps taken by the users of computers and other electronic gadgets to protect themselves from cyber theft. Just like there are ample benefits of technology, there are some downsides as well. In the online world, there are a lot of bad practices such as money theft, data theft, data breach, etc. hence these habits need something like Cyber Hygiene which will help you maintain your online security and also help to maintain your system’s health.

There is ample malicious software that can breach your personal space in the online world. You need to beware of such practices so that it is not able to harm your devices. Establishing solid cyber hygiene is essential so that you do not become a victim of it.

What is Cyber Hygiene?

As we’ve discussed above, Cyber Hygiene is something that helps you train yourself to form good habits around cyber security. Why? Because this way, you will be able to stay ahead of cyber threats and other online security breaches. Cyber hygiene is something that aims to protect both hardware as well as software health. This will ensure protection against malware. It is crucial to practice cyber hygiene daily so that your data is safe and no one can steal your personal information.

Key Steps for Good Cyber Hygiene Practices

1. Do not open links or attachments blindly:

There is a high possibility that the links or attachments which you come across on the web every day contain malicious content. This can directly harm your system, and hence there are chances that your system’s security is compromised too.

In such a case, it is better to not open any links or attachments blindly. Even if you are willing to open it, make sure that they are from an authentic source. Taking this extra precaution would protect you from landing in a digitally dangerous situation.

2. Always Keep your passwords safe:

It is quite obvious that you need not reveal your passwords to anyone, not even the ones close to you. This is because passwords are something that is closely linked to your data’s security, and if your password is known by anyone, then it is impossible to retrieve your information back. That is why, it is recommended by IT professionals to always keep a strong password that contains alphanumerics and special characters. Passwords must be unique and should be different from what was set earlier. You can even use two-factor authentication to protect your accounts wherever necessary.

3. Caught suspicion? Report Immediately:

You may come across suspicious activities online such as suspected scams and other suspicious activities. In such a case, these suspicious activities must be forwarded to a cyber-security cell and must be immediately reported before it gets too late.

4. Do not store sensitive information:

You must have sensitive information such as your identification cards, passports, aadhar cards, voter id, credit/debit card details, bank account details, and other such information. It is better to delete this information if they are no longer needed. If these are retained and if your system comes across any malicious activity, then your personal information would be at stake.

5. Always update your software, systems, and applications:

Programmers come with a new update when they suspect any kind of malicious work going on or when they’ve to introduce something new to the technology. Some people do not update their software, and this lands them in a problematic situation, so getting cyber insurance allows you to browse freely anytime. Sometimes, new software would ensure utmost security than the old ones, and hence it is essential to fully install the updates from time to time.

6. Install good antivirus and malware software:

Well, to get rid of the threats in the online world, it is better to get antivirus software installed in your system. No, not every anti-virus software is safe and can be trusted.

There are a few trustworthy antiviruses that you can opt for, such as Quick Heal, Kaspersky, Norton, McAfee, etc. Anti-virus software acts as an umbrella that protects your system from malicious software. This is a vital component that maintains cyber hygiene against security breaches online.

7. Go for device encryption:

Encrypting your devices would help to protect your sensitive data, and other media stay protected from malicious software. It is essential to keep your devices such as tablets, laptops, smartphones, backup tapes, removable drives, and cloud storage encrypted. Some applications use end-to-end encryption, and hence this way, your data would be protected against sensitive data.

8. Clean your hard drive:

There are some cases in which a user is selling their gadget, such as laptops, mobiles, or others, without cleaning the hard drives. In such a case, all your sensitive information which is stored on the hard drive may get passed along. It can further lead to hacking of your device. That is why it is better to maintain regular cyber hygiene to clean your hard drive regularly. This doesn’t merely mean cleaning the files or folders but also reformatting your hard drive before you hand over your system to someone unknown.

Conclusion:

So, now that we’ve arrived at the end of this blog, we believe that you must have got a fair idea about what cyber hygiene means and what are some tips with which you can maintain cyber hygiene online. Always remember that it’s a smart practice to maintain a good cyber hygiene habit and Choose full coverage for your family against various unanticipated and expensive cyber hazards by opting for cyber insurance. Follow the above-mentioned steps, and you’ll be on your way toward creating cyber habits which will always keep your data safe and secure in the online world.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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