In today’s digital world, cybersecurity is a top priority for businesses and individuals alike. While advanced protections are essential, there are simple steps you can take right now that will drastically reduce your risk. Here are three quick actions you can complete in under 3 minutes each:
Update Your Software Keeping your operating system, apps, and security software up to date is one of the easiest ways to block new vulnerabilities. Software updates often patch security holes and improve defences. Check for updates and install them regularly to stay protected from the latest threats. Not all software and operating system updates take hours – some can be updated in as little as 3 minutes, so why not do those first for some quick wins.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords Weak passwords are one of the easiest ways for hackers to gain access to your accounts. Ensure that your passwords are strong by using a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Better yet, switch to a password manager that can generate and store secure passwords for all your accounts. Changing just one of your passwords to make it more secure can be done in less than 3 minutes, giving you a quick boost especially. If you have lots of passwords to update then why not book 3 minutes out of your diary every day to change just one of them – it’s better than never changing them at all.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts. Even if a hacker gets hold of your password, 2FA requires them to provide a second form of identification, like a text message code or an authentication app, making it much harder to break in. Most accounts can have you up and running with 2FA in as little as 3 minutes.