No one is Safe Online from Computer Hackers

Hackers have been hacking large companies, however, now they are coming after small businesses especially rural ones because of lack of protection. So what can a small business owner do?

Change your passwords, starting from your oldest ones. You’re probably tired hearing this advice, but it’s important not to dismiss it! You don’t know if some passwords you’ve used are out there in hacker-land, ready to unlock some other account doors. You should change passwords on ALL accounts a few times a year.

Passwords are a hacker’s “master key” to finding an opening into private consumer email and credit accounts, so don’t make it easy for them by having duplicates. And while you’re at it…replace any simple passwords you’re using, such as “abc123” and “password.” They also know your kid’s names and your pet’s names from Facebook.

This article is about the reality of today’s dangerous online world. Realistically, using a major credit card or debit cards is the proper way to make most transactions, instead of gift cards, checks, and other payment options like cash. See if your credit cards and debit cards come with built-in protection offered by the provider.

Emails that appear to be from a recognizable online service asking you to log into a site to confirm some personal details are always fake. These emails are usually caught by your email application’s spam filter, but if one does slip through and you click its link, your web browser should detect and block the site it takes you to.

Your best defense is to make sure you’re running the most updated versions of every program, starting with Windows. Go online and see if Microsoft has an update for the version you use. (You may want to consider getting a new computer and Windows 10, which has a solid, built-in defense.) Installing antivirus software may sound like an obvious first step to protect against malware, but not everyone bothers to do it. With so many options now available, though, there really is no excuse. So, make sure you’re running a good antivirus program and that you’ve installed its latest updates like McAfee.