

"You want to make sure that you have a good strong password, and also don't use the same password for all the other sites you may be accessing."ĭefault passwords, like the ones on your router, are the norm for many different devices and subscriptions. "Your security is as good as your password, because that's the first first line of defense," says Shah. To establish a strong first layer of protection to your accounts, make sure to change default passwords to ones that are specific and unique to each account.Īlso: The best password managers to help you easily maintain all your logins Setting strong, unique passwords may seem like the most obvious precaution, but it is one often overlooked. Regularly updating and rebooting your router will not only help its performance and internet connectivity, but it will also ensure that it has the latest, safest software installed. "At a minimum, you should update your firmware and make sure the patches are up to date on your router," says Shah. One of the most important devices to update, and perhaps the easiest to forget, is your router. All of your IoT devices connected to your network, such as your smart home gadgets, need to be updated to reduce the number of vulnerabilities to your network.


When updating all of your devices, you have to think of more than just the obvious like your laptop and phone. "Anything, whatever you're using, you want to make sure that those devices that are connected to your network are up to date," says Hevesi.Īlso: 10 ways to speed up your internet connection today However, software updates deliver the latest security fixes to your device. Typically, when we think of the benefits of software updates, we think of new features or device performance enhancements. Reboot and update all your devices on a regular basis You could also benefit from the extra layer of protection for personal information such as credit card numbers, medical records and more. However, even if you occasionally access sensitive corporate information on your personal devices, such as your phone or personal laptop, installing antivirus software could make a difference. If you are using a device provided by your company, then it will likely come with some form of anti-malware software already installed.
