Tips for how to prevent cyber attacks

Malicious hackers use tactics that appeal to fear, urgency, curiosity or greed. Once hackers have accessed your data, they can charge your credit cards, steal photos and videos, impersonate you, drain your bank account, compromise your network or withhold your information until you pay them a ransom.

Who is the target of a phishing attack? Everyone!

Phishing has become alarmingly common in recent years. According to Cisco, 80% of the ransomware attacks it observed in 2022 began with a phishing email. And CompTIA reported a 48% rise in phishing attacks during the first half of 2022.

The following are some ways you can mitigate your vulnerability:  

• Be creative with the naming convention of your email address. Uncommon email addresses will make it more difficult for hackers to send you phishing emails.
• Pay close attention to hyperlinks, content and the email domain. All are opportunities to identify red flags like grammatical errors, misspellings or the use of numbers rather than letters.
• If you are unfamiliar with the source of the email, voice message or text message, do not respond, open or click on anything.
• Be cautious of pop-up windows.
• Avoid sharing personal data over text messages or emails.
• Be skeptical of communication with emotional lures, like “I’m in jail and need Amazon gift cards.” No one posts bail with gift cards.
• Update your browser frequently. When you implement the latest features and security fixes, you’re better protected from known security issues and you get added protection from viruses, phishing, scams and other cyber threats.

Protect your password

Hackers will attempt to gain access to your personal and financial information using several techniques to attack your passwords. One of these is the brute-force attack, which is when a hacker systematically discovers your password using combinations of letters, numbers and symbols (e.g., %*#$@).

To safeguard your passwords from brute-force attacks, you should create passwords that are complex and long (a minimum of 12 characters recommended) and avoid using common words. A password combination of letters, numbers and special characters is ideal.

Another technique hackers use is the dictionary attack, where attackers try to steal your password using preselected lists of dictionary words, often beginning with commonly used words.

The solution? Avoid using common words in your passwords, and include upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters when permitted. Also, consider implementing the following:

• Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
• Stay away from using patterns or common passwords such as 123456, 654321, 111111 and password. Similarly eschew the use of adjacent characters, such as qwerty.
• Use a password manager to store your passwords securely. We often use passwords we will remember, but they may be easier for hackers to crack. Creating strong passwords that can be stored securely and that we do not have to remember is a more reliable solution.
• Change your passwords regularly, including your Wi-Fi password.
• Use biometric scans such as fingerprint or facial recognition when available.
• Do not use personal information such as your name, birthday or street name in your passwords.
• Avoid dictionary words.

Stay cyber savvy

While social engineering and brute-force hacks are common cyber attacks, they aren’t the only ones. Here are more ways you can boost your cybersecurity.

• Avoid or severely limit the personal information you share online. (Social media, anyone?)
• Make sure to establish the most secure privacy settings you’re comfortable with for your phone, email and browsers.
• Avoid or limit using location features.
• Keep your computer software up to date.
• Back up personal information regularly.
• Encrypt sensitive information.
• Use videos, literature, blogs, training, workshops, academic credentials and industry certifications to learn up-to-date cybersecurity measures.
• Trust your intuition. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Cybersecurity degrees and education at University of Phoenix

Whether you are seeking a basic understanding of cybersecurity or you’re a working professional looking to expand your IT skill set, University of Phoenix offers online course collections, technology degrees and certificates to help you achieve your educational goals.

• Associate of Science in Cybersecurity — Awarded the EC-Council’s 2019-2022 Academic Circle of Excellence Award, this program is designed to help students develop the problem-solving skills and techniques needed to defend the cyber domain.
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology — In this program, students learn about business process, cybersecurity, information systems, operations and systems analysis.
• Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity — This online program teaches skills such as security policies, network security and cybersecurity.
• Master of Science in Cybersecurity — This online program offers intense study of such skills and topics as cybersecurity, security policies and vulnerability.
• Certified Ethical Hacker Course Collection — This course collection can help you prepare for the EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) exam. Topics include the phases of ethical hacking, recognizing weaknesses and vulnerabilities of a system, social engineering, IoT threats, risk mitigation and more. (Tuition savings and a discounted certification exam fee are offered to non-degree students.)
• Certified Incident Handler Course Collection — This course collection can help you prepare for the EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (ECIH) exam. This specialist certification focuses on how to handle cyber attacks effectively. (Tuition savings and a discounted certification exam fee are offered to non-degree students.)
• Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator Course Collection — This course collection can help you prepare for the EC-Council Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator (CHFI) exam. You will learn about the latest technologies, tools and methodologies in digital forensics, including the dark web, IoT, malware, cloud and data forensics.
• Advanced Cybersecurity Certificate — You can develop technical knowledge to step into the fast-growing field of IT security, helping keep computer systems safe from data breaches and cyber attacks. You will get real-life experience through hands-on IT labs and simulations while developing a broad knowledge of cybersecurity to help prepare you for your technology career.