Getting your music hacked is a terrifying prospect.
Hard work gone in an instant — published without release or sent out into the world before it’s finished.
Sadly, there have been plenty of examples over the years of this happening, with several superstar artists affected. So if you’re looking to better secure your music across your devices, there are a number of simple steps you can take. Of course, these steps won’t guarantee complete security — in reality, nothing can. Though they’ll go a long way towards preventing easy intrusions.
#1. Download the latest antivirus updates
It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised by the amount of people who are running out-of-date antivirus packages. Or simply getting by on something simple like Windows Defender.
Here’s a quick way to fix this issue: check out this top antivirus list for 2018 and find a software protection package with the best features to suit your needs. By using an antivirus package relative to 2018, you’ll have the the latest technology designed to meet the latest threats.
#2. Keep on top of updates
Even if you have the latest antivirus, you need to ensure you keep on top of updates. Set your antivirus updates to install automatically. And while you’re at it, consider doing this for all critical software you have.
By running out-of-date software, including the software you’re using to produce you music, you leave yourself more vulnerable to hacking. Updates will fix any bugs the software may have had, something hackers are always looking to penetrate.
#3. Beware of Scam Emails
Hackers are getting better and better at manipulating email. Gone are the days where they’re pretending to be a Malawian prince. These days, they’re sending genuine-looking emails and texts from companies we recognize.
For example, scam texts from “Whatsapp” have gotten a lot of attention recently, with a lot of people falling for them. Read everything carefully. You’ll usually always be able to tell it’s a scam if you avoid clicking links instantly. The redirect link is often a dead giveaway (just hover over it), while the email address is another clue that generally gives the game away.
Other things include spelling mistakes, poor grammar and incorrect fonts. Essentially, if something doesn’t quite look right, avoid clicking any links at all costs. Be careful and be on guard.
#4. Keep all your Passwords Unique
We’d put money on this sad fact: 90% of you have passwords that are the same across almost all of your accounts. It makes our lives easier, but it also makes the lives of hackers easier, too.
To keep your devices as safe as possible, you need to keep all your passwords unique and strong. Please, no ‘hometown123’ or ‘Surname-year-of-birth’ passwords! Instead, employ a strong mix of digits and letters, and don’t use the same password more than once.
Naturally, this will become impossible to remember, so it’s worth investing in a password manager to keep everything manageable and secure. A manager will also allow you to log in to all your accounts with just one password.