When most people think of hackers, they think people wearing hoods in dark rooms in front of their computers. However, cybercrooks come in all shapes and sizes -some are simply seeking a quick payday while others have more malicious goals. In addition to stealing money from people, many hackers use ransomware and phishing attacks to disrupt businesses. Therefore, protecting yourself from hackers is more important than ever.

Update your browser, apps, and PC. Many updates fix software vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to view or steal information. Make sure to set security PINs on your mobile devices and only download apps from official app stores. Password managers can be used to create and manage secure passwords. Always be wary of clicking suspicious links and responding to emails from unknown senders.

Contact your bank or credit-card company immediately if been a victim. They could issue you with a new account or card and choice computer technologies keep track of the transactions for suspicious transactions. If your data was accessed, encrypt it — full disk encryption is standard with Windows and MacOS — to ensure that, even hackers gain access, they’ll be unable to use your information (Windows’ BitLocker and Apple’s FileVault are two popular choices).

While no cybersecurity solution is 100% foolproof, following these guidelines will greatly reduce the chance of becoming a hacking victim. Remember that hackers are always seeking easy targets. You can enjoy your time online without worrying about cybercrime by taking certain precautions and installing a reliable security software that can thwart hackers.