Imagine this. You accidentally open up an email, thinking it’s an important message. Turns out, it contains a virus. Instead of the virus infecting only your computer, the message gets forwarded to all of your co-workers. Since the email is coming from you (their trusted co-worker), they assume it’s safe and open the email. As a result, the virus has now infected most of the company’s computers, and in all likelihood, it has infected the company’s servers, too. Just like that, a small mistake becomes a major problem. But there’s no need to worry. With just a few simple procedures in place, you can keep your inbox safe from hackers.
1) CHANGE PASSWORDS REGULARLY
Make sure that passwords get changed every 30, 60, or 90 days. With strong passwords in place, the risk of hackers intruding your computer is mitigated.
2) ENCRYPT YOUR EMAILS
There are software systems that will encrypt all of your emails. When an email is encrypted, it prevents hackers from being able to decrypt and read your message, so any sensitive data/information is protected from prying eyes.
3) DON’T OPEN EMAILS OR ATTACHMENTS FROM UNSOLICITED EMAILS
These emails or attachments can contain viruses that will infect your computer. If you do not know what it is, do not open it. In other words, make sure to think before you click.
4) USE SPAM FILTERS
It is imperative to have a spam filter to filter out unsolicited emails before they hit your inbox. These filters greatly reduce the risk of exposure to viruses. Not only does this practice help to prevent viruses, it also saves time going through your emails, which increases your productivity.
5) KEEP ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE UP TO DATE
If you do open an email with a virus, it’s critical that you have anti-virus software installed and up to date on your computer. Anti-Virus software will immediately recognize if a virus is about to infect your computer and eliminate it. This software will also scan emails before they are opened and notify you if one is infected.