| If you are concerned about hackers wreaking havoc | | | | them and change them frequently. Changing them |
| on your site, such as stealing or altering your data or | | | | every 3-6 months at the bare minimum will give you |
| stealing your customer's data, then you'll want to read | | | | extra protection. |
| this article. I'm going to take you through the top 5 | | | | 3. Secure all data |
| ways to deter hackers from breaking into your web | | | | Hackers don't have to originate from some faraway |
| site. | | | | place. They can be right in your own office. |
| Without question, your data is worth a lot of money to | | | | Regardless of where you are working, be it in a home |
| hackers. Most sites that fall victim to hackers are not | | | | office, a company office, or at a breakfast bar in a |
| asking for it, but they really do make it easy for thieves | | | | hotel, you need to keep data security top of mind at all |
| to break in and steal whatever they want. Most | | | | times. Never leave account numbers or passwords |
| hackers will go wherever it's easiest to get in, although | | | | out in the open. Anyone can steal them and log in at a |
| there are some who pride themselves on getting into | | | | later time. Be sure to clear cookies and recent data |
| highly secure sites as well. Hackers who see a site | | | | anytime you use public computers and never save log |
| that is lax when it comes to security know they aren't | | | | in information in a browser on a public computer. |
| going to have to waste a lot of time trying to break in. | | | | 4. Always shut down and turn off computers |
| They'll take a few seconds and bingo - their in. This | | | | Sure, it's easier to leave your computers on all day and |
| has become a very easy task in recent years, thanks | | | | night. But if you are no around when your computer is |
| to the proliferation of computer programs that scan | | | | left on, you'll never be able to see any attempts to log |
| the Internet and identify vulnerable sites. | | | | into your computer and steal data. Best way to deal |
| There are several things you can do on top of the | | | | with this is to simply shut the computer down when |
| standard firewall and anti-virus programs that all | | | | you are not going to be around and working on it. |
| computers should have as a base level of protection. | | | | 5. Automatic Updates |
| The top 5 steps you can take on top of this basic | | | | Always be certain that all of your computers are set |
| protection include: | | | | for automatic updates. Microsoft has this feature |
| 1. Use hard to figure out passwords | | | | available for their OS and for good reason. Anytime |
| Never use phone numbers, birth dates, or other easy | | | | there is a security update (or other updates to the |
| to figure out passwords. While it's true that many | | | | OS), your computers can automatically download and |
| hacker software programs can come up with | | | | install the update. Sure, it's a hassle to have to reboot |
| passwords in many cases, why not make it more | | | | afterwards, but it can end up saving you significant |
| difficult by using passwords that contain numbers, | | | | troubles down the road. |
| letters and symbols? Random passwords will give you | | | | I hope you've found these tips useful in helping ward |
| the best shot of protection. | | | | off any hacker attempts on your computer system. If |
| 2. Change Passwords | | | | followed, your chances of being attacked will be much |
| Don't use the same passwords for years on end. | | | | less than if you don't apply these tactics. |
| Sure, the tougher passwords are great, but generate | | | | |