Strong fundamentals keep online security threats at bay

Although online security can seem like an overwhelming task in the face of motivated cybercriminals and prevalent malware, a few simple considerations can help consumers take control of their sensitive information once and for all.

Consumer advocates have been highlighting the importance of strong password protection for years, but the concept bears repeating. Time and again weak passwords have been to blame for  incidents ranging from credit card fraud to government data breaches.

According to CNN, hackers have now developed tools that can crack as many 200,000 passwords an hour using brute force methods. Not surprisingly, the initial victims of these campaigns are the ones guarding their devices and accounts with the shortest and weakest passwords.

To remedy this issue, the news source recommended using a password manager tool that generates random combinations that would be much harder for hackers to guess.

Once an effective online security perimeter has been established, it is up to consumers to recognize the hallmarks of phishing attacks and other online scams. By gathering information from social media profiles and across the web, clever cybercriminals can design surprisingly compelling traps for the unsuspecting consumer.