Having the devices you use in your daily life well protected is essential. If you make mistakes, that can make it easier for hackers to break in, steal passwords and personal data. In this article, we echo a series of essential advice given by the NSA, the United States National Security Agency. These recommendations aim to protect a home, at a technological level, as much as possible.
It is likely that some of these tips that we are going to give you will not apply to your daily life. That is a problem, since the attackers are going to have an easier time and it is precisely what we want to avoid. Sometimes, just by making a few small adjustments, we can achieve a significant improvement in security and privacy.
NSA Security Tips
Although the real mission of the NSA is to protect national security, such as critical state infrastructure, on this occasion they wanted to give recommendations at the domestic user level. The idea is that all citizens keep their computing devices properly protected at home.
Update the system
The first tip, something that we at RedesZone always mention, is to update the system. This means that it is key to have Windows, Android, or whatever operating system you use, with the latest version available. This is what will help you avoid a wide variety of attacks, since they could exploit security flaws.
You should extend this to any device you have at home, as well as any program you use on a daily basis. Always make sure you have the latest versions and avoid problems that could affect you.
Beware of Phishing
They also mention Phishing. It is one of the most dangerous attacks today. A classic for stealing passwords and personal data. They recommend having information on how they can use this strategy to deceive and prevent them from compromising the system and obtaining personal data.
Phishing can come through an email or SMS, for example. It is usually a message where they “invite” you to click on a link and log in or enter your personal information. All of this, including passwords, will end up in the hands of attackers.
Take into account the router configuration
Another tip they give is to configure the router correctly. They recommend not leaving it as it comes from the factory, as this could be a problem that compromises safety. For example, change the name of the Wi-Fi network, as well as the key for that network and the password to access the settings.
The router is a fundamental piece to connect to the network, so taking care of it will be essential. It is also a good idea to have it updated, as this corrects possible problems in the firmware.
Has a password manager
They also advise using a password manager. Creating secure, robust keys is essential. This means that it must be completely random, containing letters (both upper and lower case), numbers and other special characters. It is not easy to memorize them, since you should have one for each account.
That’s where key managers come into play. They will help you correctly manage your passwords and avoid entering simple passwords simply to remember them.
Cover your PC cameras
One more recommendation is to cover the computer cameras. This is something that many users do. It’s as simple as putting a sticker or using a webcam cover, which are very inexpensive and easy to install. There are different types of malware that could allow an attacker to control your camera.
We can say that this measure is physical, but you must still take precautions to avoid malware. For example, install a good antivirus, have everything updated or only use official software.
In short, these are some useful recommendations that the NSA has given to protect devices in homes. The objective is to maximize security and reduce risks.
