As more of our daily lives transition to the digital world, we open ourselves up to more cyber security risks. In 2023 alone, over 343 million people were the victims of cyber crime, according to Forbes. That represents a 72% increase in data breaches since 2021. Cybersecurity is more important than it has ever been.
The world is taking notice. Just this past August, the United Nations drafted its first treaty against cyber crime. Once enacted, the treaty will create a new convention with the purpose of “Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes.” Cyber crimes do serious damage to individuals, businesses, and entire nations.
The first line of defense is always the individual users, and increased awareness of cyber security threats can help prevent major attacks. That’s the spirit of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. With that in mind, we turned to the experts at MacPaw to get their advice on some cybersecurity best practices. While the minutiae of cybersecurity is incredibly complex, the methods of protecting yourself are surprisingly simple.
MacPaw is a company that makes macOS and iOS software focused on Mac users’ lives easier. It has a variety of software options, from its decluttering software CleanMyMac to its VPN software ClearVPN. What makes MacPaw a good authority to talk to during Cybersecurity Awareness Month is its Moonlock cybersecurity division.
MacPaw’s Moonlock cybersecurity division studies the most recent cyber threats and builds software to combat them. We talked to MacPaw’s lineup of experts – from fields like privacy, cybersecurity, and Mac maintenance – and these are their top tips for keeping your Mac safe.
Top 5 cybersecurity tips from MacPaw experts
1. Be alert
Understanding the risks of cybersecurity attacks is the first step in preventing them. Being able to recognize unsafe links, sketchy websites, or scam attempts is your first line of defense. Hackers and scammers don’t often sneak in and out of your private info without making themselves known in some way. Their favorite tactic is called “social engineering.”
“Most malware infection chains start from unaware users,” said Mykhailo Pazyniuk, a Malware Research Engineer at Moonlock. “Threat actors utilize social engineering tactics, implying urgency and criticality, so that users have less time to analyze the received mail, check the domain of the website, and so on.”
Have a critical eye for every interaction online, especially if it involves private information. Trust your gut if something feels fishy.
2. Have good software
Having a solid suite of privacy and malware software is your second line of defense. Consider privacy software as a set of tools that help you identify and prevent cybersecurity attacks. Staying vigilant is still important, but we all need someone watching our backs.
MacPaw has Moonlock engine antimalware technology, which empowers CleanMyMac’s Malware Protection module, and it’s an example of precisely the kind of security you want backing you up.
3. Don’t rely entirely on software
All the anti-malware in the world can’t help you if you willingly give away a password. “The biggest vulnerability in cybersecurity is the users themselves, who easily fall victim to social engineering and fraud by trusting everything they see online,” said Kseniia Yamburh, a Malware Research Engineer at Moonlock.
So while it’s important to have a suite of software backing you up, perhaps it’s best to act like you don’t have it.
4. Keep your house in order
It’s easier to lose your keys if your house is cluttered. The same principle applies to your computer. A messy, out-of-date computer is more vulnerable to attacks than a tidy, fully updated computer.
There are a few things you can do as a user to keep your digital information tidy. Don’t repeat passwords on multiple sites. Consider using password management software so you can have truly unguessable passwords. Do not, under any circumstances, collect your passwords in a Word document called “passwords.”
“Cybersecurity starts with maintaining a clean and optimized system,” said Pavlo Haidamak, a Product Manager at CleanMyMac by MacPaw. “One of the most overlooked aspects of digital security is regular maintenance. Keeping your Mac clean not only boosts performance but also closes loopholes that malicious software might exploit.”
MacPaw CleanMyMac is an all-in-one Mac cleaner and maintenance app that can help you keep your Mac in top shape and handle junk, duplicates, malware, and performance issues.
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5. Tread carefully
So you have a vigilant eye, a suite of security programs watching your back, and a clean computer. Another step in preventing trouble is being careful about which situations you put yourself in online. Don’t go to websites that look poorly maintained. Don’t click on links that seem sketchy. And when you’re out using public Wi-Fi,use a VPN to mask your connection from potential hackers.
Virtual Private Networks mask essential information about your computer from other users. They help to keep your browsing private. MacPaw’s ClearVPN, for instance, uses strong encryption, a strict no-log policy, and a simple one-tap connecting process to keep your browsing private while you use public Wi-Fi.
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Key Takeaways
Cybersecurity risks are no joke, and they get more prevalent every year. In order to combat these threats, it’s important to stay vigilant about your interactions online. You need cybersecurity software you trust, but don’t make it do all the work for you. You need to keep your computer clean and your passwords locked up. And be careful which websites you visit and which public Wi-Fi networks you join.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to highlight these simple steps you can take to keep your data safe. Everyone benefits from a safer internet, and the basic steps above will help make that happen.
