As a culture, we’ve become extremely technology-dependent. Literally everything we do now has a technology component. We live in smart houses in which our devices make phone calls, turn on the lights at predetermined times, regulate the air temperature, and keep our front doors secure.
We buy goods online, stream our entertainment, stay in touch with friends via email, and use web-based company web portals to interact with colleagues. Instead of having shelves filled with CDs and DVDs, we store our media in the cloud. And even the simple act of walking down the street has been changed since the advent of smartphone and Bluetooth earbuds.
And we thought cartoons like The Jetsons were works of fiction!
With all this technology playing necessary roles in virtually everybody’s daily activities, experts are cautioning that there are risks that accompany the benefits, and that everyone needs to be aware of them and incorporate safety measures into their routines. With the proliferation of hackers and cyber criminals in all parts of the globe, it’s become our responsibility to ensure that our devices stay secure and that we and our families remain safe from digital crime.
To help with those efforts, people with high degrees of expertise offer their assistance to us, often for free. One of them is Thierry LeVasseur, a trusted technology expert based in Vancouver who has developed more than 150 web assets ranging from websites and extranets to customer portals.
Thierry LeVasseur, who has built his career on web-based innovations and has gained a reputation for his work and expertise in digital security, frequently offers online advice. On one platform he writes about such topics as how parents can keep their children safe. On another he discusses how companies and remote workers can use their technology securely.
Clearly, there’s a need for all people to stay informed and educated. While nearly everyone has become tech-savvy to some extent, most don’t have a comprehensive background in understanding how technology can be compromised.
purchase temovate online
This is important both on a personal and enterprise level.
Stanford University, the alma mater of many Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs, spells out its security rules on its website. “At the most practical level, securing the information on your computer means: Ensuring that your information remains confidential and only those who should access that information, can. Knowing that no one has been able to change your information, so you can depend on its accuracy (information integrity). Making sure that your information is available when you need it (by making back-up copies and, if appropriate, storing the back-up copies off-site).”
According to most online security experts, being able to use your devices securely begins with strong passwords that are difficult to crack. The more challenging your password is to a cyber criminal, the less the likelihood is that he or she will be able to figure it out. This is important.
“The best things you can do are to use a password manager, set up two-factor authentication on the sites that offer it and keep all software up to date,” advise Bill McKinley and Runa Sandvik, respectively the executive director and director of information security at The New York Times. “Doing so helps secure access to your online accounts and limits your exposure to phishing and malware.
purchase amoxicillin online
”
One of the biggest changes in home technology in recent years is the addition of an Echo or Alexa device in many living spaces. While these tools provide great conveniences, they can also be targeted by outsiders with less than benevolent intentions.
“Cyber criminals search out homes with basic security precautions in place,” writes Alexa Erickson. “Avoid being their next target by ensuring you change each of your smart home device’s wake words from the manufacturer’s default settings.
purchase orlistat online
For instance, on your Echo, you can simply say the command, ‘Change the wake word.’ You can also do it in the Alexa app, by selecting the vices icon, then select your device and finally select the Wake Word.”
In short, it’s worth taking a few minutes to ensure that your devices — all of them — are safe and secure and that you’re not giving cyber criminals any leeway at all.