Ethical hacker shares five crucial things everyone should be doing to protect themselves
A so-called ‘ethical hacker’ has announced five key ways you can keep your digital devices safe from scammers.
According to anti-virus software developer Norton, over 2,200 cyberattacks take place each day.
These hackers can work quickly and effectively to steal your personal data and can go as far as draining your bank account of your hard-earned savings.
Ryan Montgomery, a professional cybersecurity specialist, has claimed there are simple methods to stop fraudsters from accessing your devices.
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The self-styled ‘ethical hacker’ appeared as a guest on the Shawn Ryan Show last year to discuss the hot topic.
Use a password manager
Like it says on the tin, a password manager works to store all of your passwords securely and is usually available across all devices.
This software can also recommend unique passwords and help you keep track of them all in a safe, locked vault.
Benefits of utilising a password manager include minimization of password reuse, increased security and compliance with best practices, as per the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Install anti-virus software
Montgomery says that installing an anti-virus program on your electronic device is a no-brainer.
This particular software has been developed to detect and destroy computer viruses and malware that could be used to spy on you.
Anti-virus also prevents any hackers from installing anything malicious onto your computer or mobile phone and looks at all data travelling via a network to your device.
If you’re not too sure where to start, then the ‘ethical hacker’ himself recommends you talk to an expert to get a second opinion.
Use an RFID-blocking wallet
RFID - radio-frequency identification - works by transmitting radio waves to identify and track ‘tagged objects’.
This technology is the critical component of modern contactless payments but is possibly vulnerable to criminal manipulation, says Nord VPN.
In theory, a criminal standing nearby could operate a ‘skimming attack’ if you were paying for something using a contactless method on a bus or in a grocery store.
To stop hackers in their tracks, you can start using an RFID-blocking wallet.
Essentially, this is an object that looks like your credit card and you pop next to your actual card.
This blocker stops RFID signals from being read thus keeping your money safe and sound in the street.
"If you wanna be extra safe, use a key FOB that has an RFID shield on it,” says Montgomery.
"That way, your key FOB doesn't work outside of that shield and can't be cloned."
Be cautious with websites you visit
The cybersecurity expert says that if your web browser has flagged a site for being unsafe, it probably is.
According to Sitelock there are a multitude of ways you can tell whether a site is legit - including whether the site has a private policy and if you can find a website’s contact information.
Use your common sense
Finally, Montgomery’s last tip is simply to just think about what you’re doing on your devices.
“If something looks too good to be true, it probably is,” he stated.
If you’re unsure about anything or want to take further precautions when it comes to your data then be sure to contact an IT expert or a cybersecurity company for advice.