Question

after learning about the dangers of hacking, what do you think you or your family could be doing to protect your data and devices better from cybercrime? analyze real-world scenarios and propose at least three practices you could improve. (5 points)

Explanation:

1. Strong Passwords and MFA: In real - world scenarios, many people use simple passwords (e.g., “123456”) for their online accounts like email or banking. Using complex passwords with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols, and enabling multi - factor authentication (MFA) (such as a text - based code or an authenticator app) adds an extra layer of security. For example, if a hacker gets a password, they still need the MFA code to access the account.
2. Software Updates: Devices (computers, smartphones) and applications often have security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Regularly updating operating systems (e.g., Windows, iOS) and apps (like antivirus, banking apps) patches these vulnerabilities. For instance, an old version of a web browser might have a security flaw that allows malware to be installed, but an update fixes this.
3. Safe Browsing and Wi - Fi Use: When browsing the internet, visiting untrusted websites (like fake shopping sites) can lead to malware infections or phishing attacks. Also, using public Wi - Fi without a virtual private network (VPN) is risky as hackers can intercept data. For example, on public Wi - Fi, a hacker could potentially see the data you send over the network, but a VPN encrypts this data.

Answer:

To protect data and devices from cybercrime, three practices to improve are: 1. Use strong, unique passwords (with a combination of characters) and enable multi - factor authentication (MFA) for all important online accounts (e.g., email, banking). 2. Regularly update operating systems, applications, and antivirus software to patch security vulnerabilities. 3. Practice safe browsing by avoiding untrusted websites and use a virtual private network (VPN) when connecting to public Wi - Fi networks.