With more people working from home because of the pandemic, cybersecurity has become an important issue. Home internet connections are not as secure as those at businesses, and hackers are going to take advantage of this.

There are more than 2,400 cyberattacks every day, and almost half of them are on small businesses. Cybercriminals attack computers in a number of ways. As you might expect, they take information, but they also delete or contaminate files and programs, and use computers to transmit spam and viruses.

So, it is important to take whatever precautions you can to protect your computer. Here are some ways you can do that.

1. Use potent passwords

Now more than ever, you need to avoid using simple, easily discoverable passwords. Hackers can easily crack them. In fact, it is best to use not just one word but phrases made up of several words, according to the FBI. The phrases should be about three or four words with anywhere from 14 to 64 characters.

And, as cybersecurity experts have been preaching for some time, be sure to mix up your characters, using upper and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols.

You can also use a password manager, which composes complex passwords for all of your devices.

2. Use different authentication methods

Use more than one method of authentication, which will make it a lot harder for hackers to get into your computer. For example, you can use a PIN (personal identification number), a password, and a question only you know the answer to.

3. Use a virtual private network (VPN)

A VPN is a private network that encrypts data as it is transmitted over the internet. It gives you privacy and anonymity online by setting up a private network from a public internet connection. A VPN will hide your IP address and make your browsing private.

4. Update your operating system

When the maker of your operating system updates the software, they often fix security problems and install new programs to protect your computer.

5. Install antivirus and other antispyware programs

You should have these types of programs installed on your computer to protect you if you unknowingly access a website or open an email that contains a virus.

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