6 Tips to prevent cybercrime

Being a digital consumer, we tend to share everything with us on social media platforms. We use the internet, in order to access social media, do personal or business banking, book a holiday, and get the latest updates on news and sporting events. Believing that the social platform is safe, we share our personal data also. Normally we tend to neglect the security and preventative measures to lock out phishing scams and cybercriminals.

In order to prevent cybercrime we have come up with 8 tips to avoid cybercrime:

1. Constantly update passwords and login details:
   By changing your login details, at least once or twice a month, you can cut down your chances of being a target of cybercrime.

2. A secure computer will deter cybercriminals:
   Always be sure to activate your firewall settings. Furthermore, installing anti-virus and anti-spyware software will protect your computer from various forms of malware, viruses, Trojan horses and other malicious software used to obtain your personal details.

3. Be social media savvy:
   Make sure your social networking profiles (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MSN, etc.) are set to private. Check your security settings. Be careful what information you post online. Once it is on the Internet, it is extremely difficult to remove.

4. Secure mobile devices:
   More often we leave our mobile devices unattended. By activating the built-in security features you can avoid any access to personal details. Never store passwords, pin numbers and even your own address on any mobile device.

5. Protect your Data:
   Use encryption for your most sensitive files such as tax returns or financial records, make regular back-ups of all your important data and store it in a different location.

6. Be aware of what you do while using public Wi-Fi Hotspots:
   While these access points are convenient, they are far from secure. Avoid conducting financial or corporate transactions on these networks.