If you\u2019ve followed the latest celebrity or political hacking scandals, or even watched an episode of Mr. Robot, you probably know that everyone\u2019s passwords are terrible and that we\u2019re all doomed. But there are several ways you can proactively minimize the risk of this happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In honor of Computer Security Day, we put together some major takeaways to increase your website security and keep your information safe(r) online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First step: Change your password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s an experiment. I\u2019m going to guess the password for your Jimdo website. Is it 124345678? Or jimdo123? Am I close?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the U.S. and Western Europe, 12345678 was the most common password<\/a> for the fifth year running. And when someone hacked millions of Adobe accounts<\/a>, one of the most common passwords among their customers was adobe123.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve got a few minutes to kill, take a look at the list of the most common (and cringeworthy) passwords<\/a>. Here are a few lessons from the list: Don\u2019t pick your cat\u2019s name (Buster and Tigger, anyone?) And sorry, don\u2019t pick your favorite thing either (\u201ccheese\u201d and \u201cfootball\u201d are already on there).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can find some great tips on how to come up with a strong password on websites like howtogeek.com<\/a>. No matter what you choose, the best thing you can do right now is to change your password to something that\u2019s not on that list above.<\/p>\n\n\n howtogeek.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n The best metaphor I\u2019ve found to describe password security is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Passwords are like underwear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. It may sound like jargon but in layman’s terms, it\u2019s a way to encrypt and protect information as it travels between your computer and a website you\u2019re visiting. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n As a consumer, you should always look for that lock icon in your browser that ensures you have a secure connection, especially when making purchases. If you\u2019re not sure, click the lock icon in the address bar to display the security certificate for the website. If the certificate isn\u2019t displayed, or you get a warning message that the address of the website doesn’t match the certificate, don\u2019t continue.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a Jimdo website (or you purchase on a Jimdo website) you\u2019re already covered\u2014all Jimdo websites have <\/span>free HTTPS encryption<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n You may have heard of the experiment in England which led to a handful of Londoners giving up their eldest child in a hidden \u201cHerod clause\u201d<\/a> after agreeing to the terms and conditions of a Wi-Fi hotspot. However, it isn\u2019t only the terms and conditions you should be looking out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wireless transmissions aren\u2019t always secure or encrypted, which means your data could be intercepted. If you have to use a free Wi-Fi channel, be sure to check the website you send information to is HTTPS-encrypted and don\u2019t use mobile apps that require sensitive information. Mobile apps don\u2019t have any obvious indicators that they are secure. So if you plan on using a website that involves sharing your credit card or accessing your bank account then use a secure network or your own mobile data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you really can\u2019t avoid using an unsecured Wi-Fi for a transaction then use the company\u2019s website instead of the app so you can check for HTTPS in the web address. We\u2019ve all been tempted and I put my hands up to having done it myself\u2014saved passwords in browsers. You know it\u2019s wrong but those pesky passwords can be hard to remember. Not only does this leave your password accessible to anyone who uses your computer so they can log in to accounts or see actual passwords but also a thief if your laptop gets lost or stolen. Even if you want to sell or dispose of your old laptop and the data hasn\u2019t been fully erased you stand the same risk. The simplest and safest way to keep your password safe is by using a password manager such as LastPass<\/a>. That way you still have your password saved but it\u2019s protected by extra layers of security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n We\u2019ve all received \u201cget rich quick\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m a prince that needs $1000\u201d spam emails that you delete straight away knowing it\u2019s a scam. Sophisticated attackers though, may deploy spearphishing<\/a> email campaigns where the content is specific to you based on what they can find out on the internet. These emails can have some accurate personal information but something may not be quite right, so trust your instincts and if something looks suspicious or too good to be true, don\u2019t open it. Email is a great way for scammers to get into your computer and into your company. If you\u2019re wary but the email was sent by a trusted friend or colleague, always check with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to prevent email spearphishing from happening<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We hope these tips help you stay safe online and if there\u2019s any more you want to share let us know in the comments!<\/p>\n\n\n\nBring your business online with Jimdo.<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
2. Use HTTPS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Be wary of free Wi-Fi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Avoid saving passwords in your browser<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bring your business online with Jimdo.<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
5. Trust your gut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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