Cyber criminals are lurking around every corner, looking for a way to get at your personal information. But if you're savvy and know what to watch out for, you can stop them dead in their tracks. Read on to find out how.

Strange computer behaviour.

• Check your computer for viruses and malware. The first thing you should do when you notice strange behaviour is to run a virus scan. This can be done through the Windows Defender program, which is built-in to Windows 10, 8 and 7.
• Make sure your computer is up-to-date. If you haven't updated any software recently, then it's possible that you have outdated programs on your device that are not compatible with newer versions of an app or operating system. Updating all software will help ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently on your device as well as keep security risks at a minimum level.
• Don't open suspicious emails: The best thing to do when receiving emails from unknown people or companies is to delete them immediately without opening them! Even if the subject line sounds like something important (like "Update Your Account"), this doesn't mean that it's trustworthy or safe for you - especially if it asks for personal information or directs users towards websites they don't recognize offhand (such as "paypal" sites). If anyone ever gets access into their accounts after clicking on these links they could cause damage by changing passwords etcetera so make sure never click anything without confirming its validity first!

Trouble with programs and files.

If you’re having trouble with a program or file, it could be due to malware. To check for this, use a virus scanner like Malwarebytes or Windows Defender (which is built into Windows 10). You can also install an antivirus program like Kaspersky or Norton Security Premium on your device and run a full system scan to see if there are any viruses present. If so, follow the instructions that came with your antivirus software to remove them.

Error messages on webpages or when trying to log in to your accounts.

Error messages are a common way for attackers to initiate an attack. One common error message is the “your device has been infected by malware” scam, where you may see an alert on your computer that says you have a virus and need to download software from another website to fix it.

Other types of error messages can be caused by more benign issues like misconfiguration of your browser or failure to update software as well as malicious software, viruses and other forms of malware such as keyloggers - which can steal sensitive data (such as passwords) without your knowledge.

Being locked out of your accounts

If you're locked out of your accounts, contact the company that owns the service. Recovery processes vary by provider, but the general process is that you'll need to provide proof of identity and then wait for a response from support. It can take a few days or weeks depending on how busy they are. If you don't have access to any other accounts and need to get back into yours as soon as possible, try using an old backup email address if one exists (if not, create one!).

Improve your systems

A few ways you can improve cybersecurity for healthcare roles are:

• Use a password manager.
• Use two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible.
• Use a VPN (virtual private network) to encrypt all your internet traffic and hide your IP address from cyber criminals looking to harvest your data for nefarious purposes.
• Install firewalls on all devices that access the internet, including PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones; make sure they're up-to-date with patches for any security vulnerabilities found in them by their manufacturers or firmware developers; and consider using a hardware firewall if you have multiple devices connected to the same router—they're much easier to configure than software ones.
• Install antivirus software on each device you use regularly; make sure it's updated regularly too (and keep an eye out for ransomware on social media accounts too). If malware gets past this second line of defence because nobody did their job properly then you might want to consider getting rid of those people who are responsible as soon as possible before they infect everything else inside your organisation with their incompetence.

Whether it’s your personal data, company secrets or just annoying spam, cyber criminals are always looking for an easy target. The best way to protect yourself is by knowing what to look out for and how to respond when something goes wrong.