A Cyberattack is Brewing? Protect Yourself With this Quick and Easy Guide

 

Follow our tips and precautions to keep your devices - and yourself - safe in the event of a cyberattack.

So you've heard that a big cyber attack could happen ...

Perhaps you've listened to the news and heard the warnings about, uh,  some countries allegedly trying to play with other countries' networks and cyber infrastructure - even private homes.  And now you worry.  What does that mean?  Will my devices stop working?  Is my Internet safe?  What to do?

Step 1: Breath - you are certainly not helpless

Today, you may feel that fending off a massive cyberattack orchestrated by a hostile world power is a little beyond your financial means.  In fact,  it's the little things that can make all the difference.

There isn't a single app or feature that can guarantee that you won't even be slightly hampered by a large-scale state-sponsored cyberattack - part of what makes these threats so frightening to people is that 'it's hard to predict exactly which ones will play. 

So your best bet is to plug as many holes and cover as many angles, as possible.  Preferably before something happens.

You'll be surprised how far a little prevention takes you - and nothing makes us happier than empowering you.

Step 2: Get or Update Your Antivirus - Your First Line of Defense

A good antivirus can (and should) do more than just block malware from entering your computer.  If you want your antivirus to withstand a massive attack, there are a few essential features you should be on the lookout for.

The router security: the hacking routers - including the one you have at home - gives an attacker potential access to devices connected to them, the data that passes through it, and the ability to direct traffic to malicious places.  Our  Wi-Fi Inspector feature,  included in our free antivirus, scans your home network, and router for vulnerabilities.  If you're using a different antivirus, don't settle for less - if that doesn't cover your router and home network, it's time for a change.

Behavior Analysis:  State-sponsored cyber attacks often use sophisticated malware that can remain hidden in your computer for a long time, until it suddenly happens and begins to cause damage.  Make sure that your antivirus also keeps an eye out for anything that suddenly starts acting weird on your PC and stops it in its path.  All of our antivirus products (including our free antivirus) now come with  Suspicious Actions Agent,  which does so automatically.

Step 3: Boost your router and network security with this checklist 

While we are talking about routers, these precautions can prevent hackers from tricking you into participating in an unintentional Distributed Denial of Service ( DDoS) attack - that is, when attackers use your computer (often with thousands of others) to launch simultaneous attacks on their target, for example, a company, an agency, a power grid, etc. bombarding it with as much traffic as possible.   

Open your router's settings page  and do the following:

Make sure the SSID (or wireless network name) has a unique name (not the default name that comes with it!).

Change the default administrator username and password for your router.

Enable WPA2 encryption.

Upgrade your router's firmware.

Disable remote access services.

Make sure you trust any devices you connect to your network.

If you have installed  Total Security Antivirus, run Wi-Fi Inspector regularly.

Step 4: Make sure your friends and family are protected - it's free

It doesn't cost a thing to make sure everyone you love has essential protection and that in the event of a nationwide cyberattack, you really should.

We've made it easier than ever to share Free Antivirus with whoever you want.

You can either send them our recommendation page ...

Or, if you are a user, you can open your software and click on the star icon  - there you will find a recommendation link.  Each time one of your friends or relatives installs through this referral link, you will receive points that you can redeem for rewards.  Pretty neat, isn't it?

Again, it's absolutely free.

Step 5: Use a VPN to Fend off Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

A favorite tactic of modern cyber warfare is the man-in-the-middle attack or interceptor attack - an attacker between you and what you are doing online (browsing, chatting, emailing, banking ...), sees it all. what you type, send and receive, and capture all your traffic - even changes it.  It is a great way for hackers to get compromising and embarrassing information, login details,  passwords, credit card numbers, etc.

A  VPN (or virtual private network)  can help protect you from these attacks.  The name might sound offensive, but it really isn't - a VPN is just an app you install on your computer or smartphone, and when you turn it on, it covers everything you do online under a thick cover. encryption layer, even if they're snooping.  (It also does other very useful things!).

If you are using a public Wi-Fi network,  or if you are connected to a hacked router without knowing it, and you want to prevent these attacks from wreaking havoc on your life, you need to browse the internet with a VPN.

Step 6: Secure your smartphone and tablet as well

Surely we don't need to tell you how much you depend on your smartphone for ... well,  everything.  Surely any world power thirsty for domination that is worth the trouble will have understood this.  Your mobile device is not immune to the large-scale cyberattack, that's what we get.

We know how to keep your Android, iPhone, and tablets secure - from malware protection to mobile VPN  and a  free, secure password manager for all the accounts you use on the go.  Looked.

Step 7: Consider upgrading your protection to include additional layers

As we said before, the key to a successful large-scale cyberattack is to cover as many angles as possible.  Consider installing those extra layers of protection  - in the event of state-sponsored cyber warfare, that will be money very well spent.

A  visor fire. This is a security feature that gives you full control and visibility to everything (and everyone) over what goes in and out of your PC.  This can prevent hackers from stealing your personal data and login information, and from using your computer to launch attacks against other people.

Domain Name System (  DNS) hijacking protection. It is some sort of attack that redirects you from the page you want to visit one that closely resembles it - except that it was specifically designed to steal your login, banking, and credit card details, etc. . Our feature Real Site, for example, protects you against this type of attack.

Anti-phishing.  The attacks sponsored by the state are very skilled use scams by phishing sophisticated  - scams in which people are deceived to give up their passwords and other login information to a hacker pretending to be someone else - then fly the personal or sensitive information they access.  Fortunately, we can help with that too.  We have the technology