Protect your email from hackers by following these simple steps

There is no doubt that in the past year, we have had a noticeable rise in the number of cyber threats, data leaks, phishing scams and big hacking threats. The only way they can access such important data is by hacking our email addresses. Despite the growing sophistication of hackers, there are a range of steps we should take to keep our emails from being compromised.

Watch out for Suspicious Emails

Phishing emails are carefully designed to trick you into entering confidential information such as an account number, password or date of birth by clicking on a link. The email may also include an attachment that once opened will directly infect your computer with malware.

Phishing emails have been around for a long time and despite a wealth of information about the different methods used to target victims, millions of people are still falling for these scams on a daily basis.

Avoid opening email that look suspicious or clicking on any links.

Consider the use of a Password Manager

It may be a daunting task to try to remember so many passwords for all of our online accounts, but a password manager provides a centralized and encrypted location that keeps all of these passwords secure.

The first step when using a password manager is to create a master password. The master password will control access to your entire password database. This password is the only one you will have to remember so it’s important to make this as strong and secure as possible.

Password managers can also protect against phishing attacks by filling in account information on the basis of their registered web addresses. If you think you're on the website of your bank, but the password manager doesn't immediately sign in, there's a fair chance you've gone to the phishing site.

Use a VPN for Extra Security

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a great tool to help protect your privacy online. It lets you browse the internet safely and securely by routing your connection through a server and hiding your online connections. It effectively encrypts all your data so that a hacker can’t tell what you are doing online or where in the world you are located. Quite simply, your data is safe and secure, and your internet activity is untraceable.

Secure your Home Router and Wi-Fi

When you’re initially setting up your home network you will be asked to create a publicly visible network name, otherwise known as a SSID (Service Set identifier). Most devices are configured with a default network name that has been allocated by the manufacturer. You should immediately change the default name to make it more difficult for a hacker to know what type of router you have, thereby reducing the chance of attack.

You should also update your Wi-Fi software to protect the network security of your home. The router’s firmware like any other type of software can contain vulnerabilities that hackers will look to exploit. Most routers will not have the option of an auto-update so you will need to manually update the software to ensure your Wi-Fi is protected.

Activate Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication offers an extra layer of defence in protecting the security of your email accounts. In addition to a password, two-factor authentication requires a second piece of information to confirm your identity. This reduces the chance of a hacker being able to gain easy access to your accounts.

There are a range of different two factor authentication sites available that can be used for this process. Once you have registered, you can log into your accounts as normal and then enter your password. As soon as you do this, the two-factor authentication site will send a one-off code to your phone that you must enter before gaining access to your account.