This digital age that we live in seems to be a reliable way to do business, take care of our personal finances, and much more. However, sometimes we feel too safe when doing our business via our computers. It's important to remember that hacking happens every day. Here are some things that you should be doing to keep your computer safe from unwanted invaders.

Double-Verification Login

This may seem like a very simple aspect of keeping your computer safe. But, do you really have two different forms of verification you must complete to log in to your computer? If you're like most people, you don't. Adding that second layer of security can drastically reduce your likeliness of being hacked. Each verification should be of a different form. For example, you may need a fingerprint to start and a password as your second form of verification. This can bulk up your security even more.

Anti-Virus Software

Again, this is another popular form of computer safety that many people just don't have. It's very easy to forget to renew your anti-virus software or simply to disable it so you can download items it was blocking. However, when you're anti-virus software isn't running, your computer is open to potential threats. This type of software works to block viruses and all sorts of malware from getting onto your computer system.

Update Your Operating System Automatically

It's not uncommon for individuals to hit the remind me in 24 hours button when a potential operating system update is given. Unfortunately, many of us simply don't ever upgrade our system. It's important to realize that the operating system company works day and night to make a safer system for you to run. When they identify breaches to their system or potential hazards that can occur, they create a patch for their operating system. This patch is delivered to you in the form of an update. In order to reap all the benefits of the safer system, you actually need to upgrade the operating system. Setting this to happen automatically will ensure that you don't ever let it go again.

Avoid Public Wi-Fi

When you access the internet via a public Wi-Fi network, you can leave your computer open to potential threats. It's not unheard of for hackers to use public networks to steal passwords and accounts. Instead, only use your own VPN, known as a virtual private network, to access the internet. This will ensure a safe connection that is free from potential hackers.

Make Sure Your Firewall Is Active

When it comes to computer security, the term firewall goes hand and hand. However, do you know if your firewall is actually active right now? It's not uncommon for users to turn off their firewalls when it comes to downloading documents. Sometimes your firewall can get overly sensitive and automatically delete documents you download. When you know the documents are from a trusted source, it's easy to disable the firewall and download the documents. However, you must reactivate the firewall so that you can protect your computer. Many computers now come with the option to activate the firewall 10, 15, 30, or even 60 minutes after the time you deactivate it. We suggest you use this feature.

Security Engineering

If you regularly use your computer for business, it can pay to hire a software security engineering firm. Essentially, their job is to make recommendations on how to make your computer safer. They will look at your individual systems and identify areas of possible disruption. This could be anything from a hacking attack to a natural disaster. They'll then work to come up with a solution to these potential disruptions to ensure that your business is well protected from potential mayhem.

There are many practices you can do to prevent your computer from being a victim of an intrusion. It doesn't matter if your computer is for work or simply for your home life, you'll want to take the measures above to heart. The more security practices you follow, the safer your computer will be.