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An alarming number of regular people don’t even consider cybersecurity, let alone realize the impact a lack of it can have on their user experience, privacy, and data integrity.
On the other hand, users with some cybersecurity knowledge can fall prey to harmful misconceptions even though they think they’re doing everything right.
This article exposes seven of the most common and hurtful cybersecurity myths. Get to know them, learn how to avoid them, and enjoy a safer digital life.
What Are the Cybersecurity Myths That Are Putting You at Risk?
Individual Users and Small Businesses Aren’t Interesting Targets
Let’s start with perhaps the most damaging myth. It boils down to “I am small, so I don’t matter.” Remember that hackers seek the path of least resistance, making perfect targets out of users and businesses who pay little attention to cybersecurity.
Almost half of medium-sized and small businesses worldwide have been cyberattack victims in the last year alone.
Even ordinary users are valuable sources of personal and financial data hackers can use to commit financial fraud or identity theft.
A VPN is Enough for Maintaining Online Security
VPNs are indispensable cybersecurity tools that make you more secure and less visible online.
Their sophisticated encryption ensures the data you transmit can’t fall into the wrong hands, and IP masking prevents advertisers and ISPs from tracking what you do online.
Even so, VPNs aren’t a substitute for intelligent behavior. For example, any site you log into while using a VPN still knows which account you’re using.
Some VPNs might keep updated databases on harmful sites and prevent you from accidentally accessing them. Still, they’re not designed to deal with malware or phishing.
Lastly, free VPNs can actually do more harm than good since their owners have an incentive to keep logs of your activities and sell or expose them. That’s why it’s important to research for the best VPN deals and choose a reliable provider.
Incognito Mode is a Privacy Tool
While it’s a convenient tool for keeping others who use the same device in the dark about your online activities, your browser’s incognito mode is only a local measure.
Your ISP, the sites you visit, and any trackers embedded in them can still collect data on you.
Passwords That Use Symbols, Uppercase Letters, and Numbers Are All You Need
Password complexity is crucial, but it alone doesn’t make them secure. A password containing 10 varied characters is still weaker than one made up of three 6-letter words that are easy to remember.
The password is only effective if it’s unique, as compromising one account puts all the ones you use the password for at risk.
Use a password manager for your Mac or Windows computer to quickly generate and securely store passwords that are long, complex, and unique.
Since associated services aren’t immune to being hacked, you’ll also want to take advantage of the manager’s two-factor authentication feature and strengthen account security with a secondary code.
The IT Team Will Handle It
Yes, it is your company’s IT team’s responsibility to keep cyber defenses updated and handle incidents like data breaches or ransomware attacks.
That in no way absolves you of responsibility, especially since clueless employees who fall victim to phishing and other social engineering attacks are often the reason why otherwise sophisticated cybersecurity solutions fail to protect sensitive business and client data.
Every employee is obliged to familiarize themselves with cybersecurity best practices, secure their credentials, and report suspicious activity.
Cyberattacks are Noticeable Immediately
We can thank TV shows and movies for the notion that all cyberattacks are dramatic crisis events the good guys respond to and combat in real time.
In reality, malware may stay dormant until certain predefined conditions are met. Even then, it can extract data or monitor user activity for weeks or more before being detected.
In fact, estimates put the average detection time for most cyberattacks targeting businesses at an alarming nine-months.
Only PCs Get Viruses
The fact that most viruses and malware affect the PC doesn’t mean users on different platforms aren’t at risk.
MacOS and iOS malware exist, and it can cause significant damage. Even the rigorous approval process apps go through to make it onto the Play Store or Google Play isn’t always enough to keep malicious apps from slipping through the cracks.