Cyber Security at Home

Given the increase in computer hacking and password breaches recently, I thought it would be worthwhile to have a look at some simple things we can do ourselves at home to keep our cyber security as safe as possible.

Let’s start with passwords. Did you know that 123456 is the most common password in the world? QWERTY is another, it’s ranked as the seventh most used password.

I have put together a brief outline of simple things you can do that will add a layer of safekeeping to your home cyber security.

• Never use personal information in your passwords.
• Always use a combination of letters, numbers and characters.
• Prioritise the length of your passwords.
• Never repeat your passwords.
• Use a password manager. There are a number of very good and easy to use password managers. This also means you don’t need a little black book of passwords either.

Another thing you can do is invest in a good anti-virus scanner. In most cases, these are relatively inexpensive to buy or rent and are worth their money.

A system without a virus scanner has been likened to leaving the front door of your home constantly open. An antivirus scanner is like a closed and locked door and a very good defence against hackers. Hopefully this has provided a brief overview about cyber safety at home. It’s best to be prepared as much as possible.