Protecting Yourself Online: Even though it seems like you’re plugged into some sort of Internet-capable device all day long, there are still times when you leave your system behind.
Vacations, business trips, unexpected illnesses, and more can have you leaving your desktop, tablet, or laptop unmanned for days or weeks at a time. The same goes for anything you’ve got connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) such as your thermostat, your automobile, home security system, and other appliances.
We tend to assume that these things will run perfectly or stay the way we left them when we’re away, but that assumption doesn’t take into account the likes of hackers and cybercriminals who are always looking to find the advantage to turn a profit.
Much like thieves will stake out a house to see when its residents aren’t going to be around, cybercriminals can look for tell-tale signs that nobody is looking after your system when they want to consider attempting to breach it.
5 ways to Protecting Yourself Online
How can you guard your home systems when you’re not around? These tips will help you
secure your systems to keep your personal property and data integrity when you’re not around.
#1 Purchase a Digital Home Security System
The easiest thing a thief can do to breach your system is simply swiped your hardware from your house. A digital home security system connects to the cloud and can use cameras to let you see what’s going on inside and outside your home at any given time. You can even use a microphone to speak to someone should you see them on your property. The added bonus of video recording is a great deterrent.
#2 Install Smart Home Systems
What house looks more empty? The one where the lights have been off for four days running or the one where they come on at night and turn off in the morning. A well-timed smart home system can make it look like you’re home even when you’re not, deterring the type of criminals mentioned above.
#3 Run a Virus Scanner While You’re Gone
Virus scanners don’t care if you’re on a tropical island, a ski getaway, or a miserable
convention; they’re going to do their job on time, every time. Using an online virus scanner is a smart option because it will be updating throughout the time you’re gone. That means any new virus that might pop up will be known by the scanner and can keep your assets clean.
#4 Be Smart on Social Media
Every time you make a public post about how amazing your vacation is, how long it is, or check-in at a foreign location, you’re letting criminals know that you’re not home now and you won’t be home for quite a while. That’s like sharing a post that says “Even if you smashed my front window right now, I couldn’t come home and stop you!” Limit your posts only to people you trust or do things the old-fashioned way and save your picture sharing for when you get home.
#5 Backup Your Data
Within 24 hours of your departure, make a backup for all your data and save it to either the cloud or your system. If something catastrophic happens, you won’t lose everything. Even if your hardware fails, a service like Google Drive or Dropbox can help save your digital bacon.
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