Passwords are the keys to your digital life. They unlock your devices, emails, bank accounts, and private data. Hackers know this, so they try to find your passwords. A common way to do this is by trial and error. Hackers use programs that try random passwords until they unlock their target. Strong passwords are harder to guess because there are more spaces to fill and more characters that could be in those spaces. A strong password is at least 8 characters long, with numbers, upper- and lower-case letters, and symbols. Weak passwords can be guessed relatively quickly. Take the default password type for an iPhone: a four-digit PIN. Four spaces each with ten possible digits makes a total of 10,000 possible passcodes. A computer could run through all of these codes in seconds. On the other hand, a four letter password has 456,976 different combinations. If we add numbers to this, we get 1,679,616 combinations. Still weak, but better. Then there are symbols. An English language keyboard has 32 symbols. If we used four of them, there would be 1,048,576 combinations. If we add this to our alphanumeric password, we get 21,381,376 possible passcodes. But we can do better. If we double the length of this password, there are over 457 trillion combinations. Adding capital letters gets us another 209 trillion combinations, bringing the total up to 3.6 quadrillion. This is a strong password. A hacker would take years to guess it, even with a supercomputer. A good way to make a password like this is to first think of a word or phrase that you can remember. Then, add some numbers to the end and replace some letters with special characters (eg. @ for a, $ for s, etc.). Also remember to never reuse passwords across multiple accounts. When one of these passwords is leaked in a data breach, hackers can use it to log into your other accounts. If these passwords are hard to remember, try using a password manager like Dashlane or LastPass.

Even if you have a strong password, your accounts are not invincible. Hackers can find your password if it was leaked in a data breach, or they could just get really lucky and guess it. Either way, these hackers now have access to all of your private data. So how do you protect your accounts? Many digital services offer the option to require a second credential on login, usually a one-time code sent to your phone or generated in an app. This means that hackers will need to have access to your device in order to log into your accounts. This adds an extra layer of security, keeping your data out of the wrong hands.

All softwares have security flaws that allow them to be hacked. When a vulnerability is discovered, hackers immediately try to exploit it. However, most softwares remove these vulnerabilities quickly. Most software updates contain security features and patches to stop hacking. The latest software is much harder to hack than its older counterparts. People who regularly update their software (OS, browsers, apps, etc.) are less likely to be hacked. Most softwares offer automatic updates, so you don't have to constantly check for new ones. To secure your devices, you should enable these updates.

If malicious actors somehow get their hands on your device, it is important to make sure it is encrypted. An unencrypted device is to a hacker as a house with the door wide open is to a burglar: easy picking. Encryption scrambles the files on your device, making them unreadable to anyone who doesn't have the key (password). There are different ways to do this depending on your device type and operating system. Instructions for encrypting various devices can be found at the bottom of the linked article.

If your device breaks or is infected with malware, you can lose all of your data. Backing up your device creates a copy of your files and apps that you can use if your device is not working. This allows you to set up a new device with the same stuff on it or replace the contents of your device if it is wiped by malware. You should back up your device regularly to the cloud or to an external hard drive. The article I have linked contains information on how to back up a device.

Smartphones hold lots of data about you, so it is important to secure them. Unlike computers, smartphones are encrypted by default, so you can skip that step. Once you have a strong password, make sure that apps aren't getting data you don't want them to. On iOS, you can do this by going into Settings > Privacy > Location Services and disable apps that don't need your location. Then go back into Privacy and select each data type from the menu. Apps that use this data will appear, with a toggle to disable them from accessing it. Disable any apps that shouldn't have this data. If you have any apps that you don't use, delete them. Not only do they waste storage space, but they are also a security risk, as they could potentially leak your data and may contain trackers.

Malware and other computer viruses are used by hackers to steal your data, mine cryptocurrency, or hold your computer for ransom. Viruses can be delivered through links, apps, and text messages as well as by using nefarious websites or hacking existing ones. Antivirus softwares protect you by scanning your computer for viruses and blocking unapproved connections. You can buy a third-party antivirus like Malwarebytes, but many operating systems come with included antivirus software. On Windows, open the Start menu, then type in 'defender', and open the Windows Defender Security Center. Enable all of the options. Fore more protection, activate the Windows Defender Firewall in Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Firewall & network protection and set the firewall toggle to On. MacOS is already very secure, but it can still get malware. To secure your Mac device, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall and click Enable. You should also avoid clicking on any suspicious links or downloads, and use software from the App Store when possible. 

Your browser is your portal to the internet, but can also be a portal into your life if you don't secure it. One way to secure your browser is to install a tracker blocking extension like Privacy Badger or DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials. These extensions block trackers: scripts used by advertising companies like Google to determine your interests and demographics based on your web traffic. This allows them to make more money by personalizing and targeting ads. You should also check out your browser's security settings, and consider switching to a more private browser (Brave, Safari, Firefox, etc.). These browsers block trackers and malicious ads from following you around the internet and collecting your data.

You might think that your Wi-Fi network can't leak or read your data, but Wi-Fi is a major way for hackers and ISPs to steal your data. Your ISP, the company that supplies your Wi-Fi, may be eavesdropping on communications made through your network, trying to sell your data. Hackers can also use your router to see your data or mine cryptocurrency. You should set a strong password, as with any other device or account, to prevent hackers from getting in. You should also use strong security settings to block threats like trackers and malware. The process to change these settings differs by router brand, so consult your router's manual or the website of the manufacturer. As with any other device, routers also need to be updated regularly to increase their security and prevent hacks.