One of the biggest threats that individuals and companies face today is having their sensitive information hacked.

From bank account data to personal media files, everyone should remain exceedingly careful about private and professional information.

While the threat is always there, there are a few simple tips that everyone should consider with their internet-driven devices.

Data Backup

The first step is to backup all private data on a localized and password protected hard drive.

Cloud servers do come with a wide array of benefits, but they can also be damaged or breached at any time. This is especially important for any irreplaceable family photos or important business information that will be needed in the near future.

Anti-Virus Software Updates

Seeing those pesky popups every few days to update various programs often seems like an unending chore that simply won’t go away. While some of these software updates may be ignored, all anti-virus software, chatting programs, internet browsers, and software that connects to the internet should be regularly updated.

Mobile Device Security

It often seems easy to relegate minor tasks, such as checking on one’s bank account, to a smartphone or tablet PC but this can become a major security issue. Due to the ease in which these items are stolen, no passwords or account names should ever be saved on one’s phone.

Password Protection

Every single device, program, or piece of hardware that allows the user to make a password should be utilized.

This includes some unique gadgets and services that some customers fail to realize have this option such as a modem, cloud servers, and routers.

While it may seem like a hassle to remember this many passwords, it could mean the difference between protected information and a hacked account.

Understand Good Practices for Account Names and Passwords

There are a few dozen passwords and account names that are used time and time again, and this makes the job of the hacker extremely easy. Every single password should be slightly different and contain a mixture of both letters and numbers. For programs that allow it, the password should be 7 characters or longer.

Consider Professional Assistance

By contacting professionals with Singapore IT jobs, families and small businesses could be able to hedge off security threats before they manifest. Those within the industry can help their clients with everything from setting up home networks to downloading encryption systems for their business’s servers.

About the author: This is post by Madyson Grant, a technology writer who specializes in data backup and security tips.

The post 6 Ways to Protect Your Computer Against Hackers appeared first on Colocation America.

The importance of backing up your computer files cannot be stressed enough. No matter how careful you may be, accidents can happen and data can be lost.

No form of digital storage is perfect, and most hard drives fail after several years. Laptops and desktops are subject to breakage and decay and files can accidentally get deleted. To many, backing up online is an easy solution.

Online data storage services are secure for a number of reasons: backing up to a different physical location creates an additional layer of protection.

Also, these companies usually keep multiple copies of your files in different data centers, so if one copy were to become inaccessible they can easily retrieve data from another location. Online storage services are offered from Dropbox, Crash Plan and Carbonite.

Dropbox

Dropbox can be rather expensive when used to back up a whole computer. What Dropbox excels at however, is making file synchronization simple. Dropbox is easy to install and offers 2 GB of free online storage. While this is large enough to back up some important documents, it is not large enough to back up media libraries. You can install and create a Dropbox folder on any computer. Any files stored in that folder are instantly synced with online servers as well as your computers or mobile devices. You can purchase additional storage for a monthly fee.

Crash Plan

Crash Plan is one of the most popular and well reviewed computer back up services available online. The plans are quite affordable and they offer 2 GB of online storage for free. Crash plan also offers a number of features, almost to a fault, to customize back up services. Software allows you to save copies of the back up locally as well as online.

Carbonite

Carbonite is another popular online backup service. Carbonite is priced yearly at competitive rates, and they offer personal and business accounts (as do all of these services). Carbonite’s software runs in the background, and is easy to use and set up.

Numerous alternatives exist, including Xennix’s Secure Online Back Up service. You may wish to compare these sites and evaluate them based on your individual needs for online back up. Until then take care of your computer to ensure none of your precious data is lost.

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