The average time spent in front of a screen each day in the UK is around five hours, not counting working hours, according to a recent study. Young people between the ages of 16 and 24 spend more than 2,500 hours a year on Instagram. While tech apps and gadgets make our lives easier in many ways, cybersecurity companies ESET warned about the security implications this could have.

Experts warn that all of this has security implications. As the number of passwords, devices and accounts grows, our ability to track all of these digital assets decreases. Sometimes we end up using solutions that are fast but not very secure, like reuse passwords, which only made things worse. Others may even ignore security warnings altogether without a care.

“In the workplace, human error is responsible for about 82% of all corporate data leaks. But that same complacency and lack of security knowledge can also take a toll on our personal lives, putting our data and devices at risk. A investigation discovered 24 billion stolen username/password combinations circulating on the underground dark web marketplace by 2022. In short, we must improve security risk management, and that starts with understanding and mitigating the most common human errors.”, comments Martina Lopez, Computer Security Researcher at ESET Latin America.

Major digital security mistakes to avoid

1. Clicking on links and opening attachments in spam messages: Also known as phishing, these missives can travel via email, text messages, social networks or messaging services such as WhatsApp. They will usually impersonate a legitimate sender such as a bank and require an immediate response from the recipient. These messages will usually lead to a malware secret download, or else they will look to potential victims to pass on personal, confidential and possibly financial information. Always be on the lookout for unsolicited messages and do not click on links or open attachments in them. If in doubt, contact the sender in another way and check if the message received is legitimate.

2. Skip update: Keep updating computers and other devices use is very important for safety. Through updates, manufacturers release patches to fix certain security vulnerabilities that cybercriminals exploit to attack devices and accounts. It pays to enable automatic updates for operating systems, browsers, applications, and installed software.

3. Connect a third-party USB device: Removable media may not be as popular as it was a few years ago. After all, cloud storage for transferring data has improved a lot. However, it can still be an effective transmitter of malware when connected to a machine. For starters, never connect to a computer a USB memory that you don’t have.

4. Use and reuse weak passwords: It was one of them the most common security errors what users do. Weak passwords are short and easy guess or guess for cybercriminals. Using this information, attackers will try to hijack certain accounts and others that share the same credentials. Password, or even better, password passphrase, they must be long, secure and unique. This is the key to using a password manager to keep them safe.

5. Do not enable two-step authentication (2FA): It is used to add an extra layer of security besides passwords. With two-step authentication, a second “factor” is added, which can be anything from an SMS code to a facial scan, which makes it more difficult for cybercriminals to access accounts even if they have the password.

6. Not making backup copies: Making backup copies is another basic and important security habit many users are negligent. This can cause problems if cyber criminals manage to access and encrypt the data, as is the case with infections ransomware. Making regular backup copies and keeping one of these copies without an internet connection can be very helpful in case of accidental data loss.

7. Using and sharing work devices for personal use: New era of remote and hybrid work that means many of us are now spending more time working from home. This makes it even more tempting use company devices for personal tasks, such as making purchases, downloading from the Internet, games or content from streaming platforms. This can put employers at risk, because if a device is infected with malware, cybercriminals can access corporate networks and applications. Try to keep work and play separate by using company devices only for work assignments.

8. Be accommodating: One of the biggest challenges with security is that users tend to think everything is fine until it’s too late. Companies that exchange data and technology providers whose products are used every day are trusted. But it can create a false sense of security. Take some time to look at the device’s security settings and get information about the main risks and how to manage them.

9. Not using security software on all devices: Many appreciate using reputable security software. But how many have installed it on all their devices? Smartphones and tablets are often more vulnerable to malware hidden on websites, in phishing messages and in mobile apps. Digital life is increasingly important and must be protected by giving digital security the time and attention it deserves. Find a provider you trust and make sure all your equipment and devices are protected.

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