Cyber security is an issue that worries Spanish men and women. According to a recent NordVPN survey, 65% of Spanish citizens fear that a foreigner could gain access to their home computer, oddly the same proportion of those who fear losing their jobs.
This is not their only concern, as the report from the virtual private network company also guarantees that 69% of those surveyed are afraid of losing their cell phone or computer, while 66% fear their email password. not be stolen.
In turn, these percentages coincide with the Spaniards’ worry about losing their wallet (69%), being infected with a coronavirus (68%) and suffering from another disease (66%). They are only overwhelmed by the fear of finding the door to the house open (80%) or by the theft of personal documents (78%).
“We are at a very worrying time for cybersecurity, also known as computer security. There are real goldmines of data online, so that each pirate finding even the smallest cracks in people’s networks, systems and devices is self-imposed, ”says Daniel Markuson, NordVPN expert.
In the face of these problems, Spanish men and women protect themselves to a large extent. In this sense, the NordVPN report also concludes that 72% of users residing in Europe use Software antivirus and connect to secure Wi-Fi networks.
Other forms of security used are protection against malicious files (69%), privacy online (68%), protection against Phishing (53%) or change of IP address (44%). On the other hand, only 13% consider that the use of the VPN is relevant.
This latter piece of information is particularly curious because virtual private networks can help, to a large extent, to achieve the desired protection and cybersecurity, especially in terms of anonymity and confidentiality.
This does not mean that Spanish men and women do not use VPNs, although they do largely go for free VPNs. Majority (45%) use them for private browsing, but many also use them for their device and accounts online are safe (39%). 16% of respondents install a VPN to access restricted content.
Tips and tricks to protect a computer or mobile against hackers
Markuson gives these tips for getting cyber protection:
- Install an antivirus to protect your device from cyber threats
- Use a firewall to filter traffic coming from the Internet
- Use unique and complex passwords (you can help yourself with a password manager)
- Take advantage of two-step verification (and, where possible, avoid using SMS codes)
- Don’t browse public Wi-Fi networks without protecting yourself with a VPN
- Back up your data to the cloud using a private, encrypted service
- Cover your webcam to avoid being spied on by a third party
- Do not click on suspicious links that could Phishing
- Don’t share your private data with anyone
All of these tips can also help protect you from possible crimes and scams. online, such as those perpetuated by fraudulent messages and calls. It is advisable to follow them, especially in the midst of a pandemic, because during detention the number of cyber-scams increased.
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