In 2021, the United States Census Bureau published a report on computer and internet usage, which revealed that 81% of households own a computer and 74% have an internet subscription. Considering these metrics in light of the surge in cybersecurity risks, there’s no margin for doubt that the general public may be susceptible to cyberattacks.
The truth is that cyberthreats are evolving at an astonishing rate, especially with the influence of AI, rendering them harder to contain than in the past. Knowing how to protect your home computer from hackers is increasingly necessary.
At the same time, more important than knowing how you can protect your home computer is to understand how to you make protection a core aspect of your digital life.
Home computers are especially vulnerable to cyberattacks, primarily because they can serve as entry points or weak links to larger networks via individuals who use them for work. The best approach is to familiarize yourself with the most common threats to home computers.
A social engineering attack that consists of impersonating legitimate entities via email, chat, and other platforms to steal sensitive data. (e.g., catfishing and tech support scams).
Malicious software designed to infiltrate, harm, and exploit networks and systems.
Guessable passwords are easy to crack, increasing the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts.
Outdated software is exploited by bad actors due to its vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, these threats can lead to significant damage, such as identity theft, financial loss, and severe emotional distress.
After familiarizing yourself with the most prevalent threats, it’s essential to know how to mitigate them. Being aware of the importance of updates, backups, and passwords is paramount, but it goes further than that. Here are some strategies for protecting your online privacy and computer.
Subscribe to an internet security suite: Subscribing to an internet security suite should be a top priority for protecting your home computer. These comprehensive PC protection packages often include antivirus, firewall, identity theft protection, anti-phishing protection, and even password managers.
Implement multifactor authentication (MFA): It’s crucial to enable MFA for all your accounts that support it. At the very least, you should enable it for your most important ones, like your banking app. Even if hackers know your password, they won’t be able to access it without a second or third method of authentication.
Use a password manager: The value of password managers is unmatched. They offer a simple way to generate and store complex passwords, credit card information, and other sensitive data in one encrypted and secure vault.
No matter if you are an IT specialist or just an everyday user, everyone wants to ensure unsurpassed protection for their devices. As the entry-level product from Bitdefender and the big brother of Bitdefender’s Antivirus Free Edition, this is an antivirus suite that stands out as one of the most optimum antivirus solutions for Windows that there is at the moment. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus might be the right choice for those who want a more comprehensive defense for their PC, and as a package comes complete with a user-friendly interface, an autopilot function to guide users through the installation and scanning processes, a network scan, supplementary layers of ransomware defense, and even a VPN (virtual private network) as a bonus. However, with the addition of the likes of malicious website blocking, a password management tool, and protection for online banking, it’s about as feature-packed as a base-level security suite can be. It comes at a minimum price of $19.99 for a one-year subscription and for only one device, though there is a more basic version available for free: Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition.
is a real-time protection service that safeguards your browsing activity by enhancing your online security and privacy. It shields customers from numerous online threats, such as phishing and malware, before they infect the user’s device. To attain this, Guardio includes features like anti-identity theft, safe searching, email security, and malicious download blocker. The service is available via browser extensions and apps for Android and iOS and there’s a free version as well as discounts of up to 33%.
What happens on your computer, stays on your computer. Or not? While most experts in the field agree that Kaspersky Free Anti-Virus is a quality product, it also represents a controversial solution. In 2017, the US Department of Home Security banned the Russian company’s products because of claims surrounding basic privacy problems to hackers attempting to attain information from a National Security Agency service provider. This free antivirus software provides basic safety, helping you to defend your device against viruses, block malicious files and apps, and warning you about any threatening websites. The tool can offer security for a PC without slowing it down and since it is updated automatically, it is always kept up to date. It has two upgrades available, the basic package being the Kaspersky Internet Security for one device with a price of $34.87 per year. These upgrades come with additional features such as advanced protection, protection across multiple platforms.
Whether it’s for you or anyone else in the family, protection while browsing your favorite websites is essential. Having a solid antivirus installed on all the devices you use is a must, but you’ll need more than that. Enter AVG Ultimate, a bundle of four programs, all of which, when installed, will let you sit back and browse the internet without ever worrying about security. Each software is responsible for protecting your device in different ways. Among them is the renamed and revamped AVG Internet Security, practically the same user-friendly and easy-to-manage antivirus software launched just a few years after the internet came into our homes. But modern systems require more than just an antivirus, and combined with the other programs, AVG Ultimate provides a solid defense on all fronts. All this at a reasonable price and with happy-to-help customer service.
It’s easier said than done, but the truth is that relying on our instincts is often a great weapon against cyberattacks. Look for unexpected emails, suspicious links, or unusual account activity. If you spot anything odd, take a moment to investigate further before acting.
A background check service can be invaluable for ensuring the person you’re talking to online is real and not a scammer.
A VPN hides your IP address, prevents ISP tracking and data interception, and also helps you bypass geo-restricted content. With a VPN, your online activities are private and secure.
Unfortunately, some browsers and email services aren’t safe due to weak encryption standards or inadequate privacy controls. To protect your privacy, surf the web with a secure browser and manage your email with a trustworthy email service.
Simply knowing how to identify threats isn’t useful if we don’t keep up with how they are evolving. One of the most fundamental steps to blocking hackers from attacking you is knowing how they operate, so we recommend staying informed about current developments in cybersecurity. Explore this via news articles, videos, and reports.
The dangers brought forth by the rapid development of technology has made protecting our home computers more challenging than ever. 81% of people are at risk of becoming victims of a cyberattack and many are unaware of this. The best way to reduce the chances of being targeted is to adopt a multi-layered approach to security and privacy.
Subscribing to an internet security suite, enabling MFA, and using a password manager are some of the priorities. Above all, it’s important that you educate yourself about cyberthreats and keep up with the ongoing breakthroughs in cybersecurity. By doing so, you’re one step ahead in creating a robust defense for your home computer and protecting yourself from hackers.
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