In today’s digital age, cyber attacks are becoming increasingly prevalent and severe. Although hackers hack for different reasons; find more in this article https://www.wazoplus.com/community-space/post/an-insight-ino-the-minds-of-hackers-41360749

It is expedient that we are not ignorant of how we can make ourselves vulnerable to hackers from large-scale data breaches to individual cases of identity theft.

Truth is the consequences of falling victim to a hack can be devastating. However, one of the most effective ways to prevent this, is to know and protect oneself from common mistakes that make people vulnerable to hacking.

In this article we will be discussing some mistakes people make that leave them open to hacking, subsequently we would also explore the consequences of these mistakes, and offer tips and best practices for protecting your personal information from hackers (black-hat hackers). Always remember “hackers are like artist, they try to make something where there was once nothing.” - Anonymous. Stay tuned!

Common mistakes that make people vulnerable to hacking include;

1)  Using the same password across all accounts:

Using the same password for everything makes you hackable because if a hacker is able to obtain your password through a data breach or phishing scam. This is because if you use the same password for multiple accounts and one of them is compromised, the hacker can use that password to try to gain access to other accounts, increasing the likelihood of a successful hack. Additionally, it's also difficult to determine which account has been compromised.

2)Installation of apps from wrong or malicious sites:

This can make you hackable because some of these apps can contain malware or other malicious code that can compromise your device and steal sensitive information. Some malicious apps on your device may be designed to gain access to other apps on your device, such as your banking apps and social media accounts, which can give hackers access to your financial and personal information.

It is recommended to download apps from the official app store and please don’t forget to check its rating before downloading.

3) Clicking Short Links:

Long links that don't fit nicely into Facebook updates or Tweets are often shortened to just a few characters, which renders the website's URL invisible. Clicking on a shortlink means you don't know where you're headed, and could be clicking on malware. To avoid this trap, use a browser with link previews, which show the webpage's title and description, and a thumbnail image, so you know what's coming before you click. If it doesn't look legit, then don't click through.

4) Saving your password on your browser:

If an attacker gains access to your device, they will be able to access your saved passwords and this can happen if your device is stolen or accidentally left unlocked.

Additionally, many browsers also allow syncing of saved passwords across devices, which means that if you save your password on your desktop computers, it will also save on your mobile device, tablet and other computers that may use the same browser. This increases the risk of a hacker gaining access to your password if one of those devices is compromised.

5) Not keeping your Software and operating System up-to-date:

Software and operating system updates often include security patches that fix known vulnerabilities, which can be exploited by hackers to gain access to your device or computer open to security threats, and increase the risk of successful hacking. It’s good practice to regularly check for software updates and install them in a timely manner.

6) Bonus! Not changing your passwords regularly:

Passwords are said to be like “Underwears”, you change them regularly because as time goes by, the probability of your password being compromised increases. It could be because of a data breach, a phishing scam, or other methods that attackers use to gain access to your personal information. To mitigate this risk, it’s recommended to change your passwords regularly, at least every 3 to 6 months,and to use unique, complex and frequently updated passwords for different services and accounts.

There are several other mistakes people make, if you know them kindly share them in the comment session it will go a long way to protect other people from hacking attempts.

Meanwhile, to get more of these articles, turn on your notification so you don’t miss out on the next article which will be ways to prevent these mistakes and stay hack free.