In today’s world, with most work taking place using a computer, it has become increasingly important that good cybersecurity habits are practiced in order to best protect oneself on the web. Through lots of research and help from experts on cybersecurity in the commercial real estate industry, the 5 best cybersecurity practices to personally implement were put together as the start to this series.

1. Creating Strong Password

This may seem obvious at this point, but good passwords help keep all of ones accounts secure. Strong passwords should be of considerable length, should mix up and randomize capitalization throughout, and use numbers and symbols. Another great way to make a stronger password is by choosing a term or phrase that is completely random and contains no personal connection. Or instead go page through a dictionary and pick an interesting and lengthy word, randomly capitalize about half of its letters, then toss in some numbers and symbols at both the beginning and the end and you will have yourself an amazing password.

2. Change Your Passwords

Even if someone has one of the best passwords that there is, most sources will recommend changing your password several times a year. This helps maintain cybersecurity in a simple way. It first makes accounts and information more secure by keeping those who would try to access them on their toes. When passwords are changed and remain unpersonal and unconnected to each other, potential hackers have no way to know what to try next after a failed attempt.

3. Use Different Passwords

Everyone has various accounts that are used each day whether they be for email, work, social media, or even online shopping. It is imperative that one does not use the exact same username and password for each of their accounts. While this is definitely the easiest route to avoid forgetting a password, it is also one of the easiest ways to get all of one’s personal information stolen. All a potential hacker must do is find a single gap and gain access to an account. From there the password can be stolen and allow them entry into all other accounts with that password.

4. Multifactor Authentication

Multifactor authentication is a great way to keep accounts secure. This term often sounds complex but in reality, only ends up adding an additional five seconds to login time. A process that can send you a push notification or a text is a great way to make sure that you are the only one that has the ability to access your accounts.

5. Never send payments over the internet without confirmation

Often malware or popups can easily imitate a legitimate payment screen online that one tries to use to pay for something. By simply slowing down and checking the ins and outs of where payment information is being submitted and where that information will then be sent to, one can easily tell if something looks off.

Many of these best practices are geared around passwords or protecting access to your accounts because that is what is considered best for an individual basis of cyber protection. The next post in this series will switch it up and describe the best practices for properties and companies.

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