Christmas is here, and so is a quick recap

Got the gifts? Wrapped? If yes, great work; if not, good luck. One thing you don't have to wrap, or queue for at the supermarket, is basic cybersecurity.

Got the gifts? Wrapped? If yes, great work; if not, good luck. One thing you don't have to wrap, or queue for at the supermarket, is basic cybersecurity. It sounds like an awful cliché, but a little goes a long way — and with the basics down you're protected against the vast majority of attacks. It can be done completely for free, but if you're willing to throw a few crowns at it, you'll definitely level up.

What are the absolute basics???

The same things I repeat in every article. Use strong, unique passwords and store them in a password manager. Update all your apps and your operating system, and check whether you can update the firmware on every device connected to your network — that NAS no one ever updated is like a hole in the fence. Turn on MFA, and watch where you go online, what data you put where, and what you download from where!

OK, what should I do next?

Once you've covered the basics above, it's a good idea to get an antivirus. I won't give a direct recommendation, because today most paid AVs work pretty well. Here you'll have to figure out what you need and how much you're willing to pay.

I already have all of this — what now?

First, nice work. Second, this is where the real doors of cybersecurity open. If you have time and curiosity, build a Linux machine (or a VM) and try attacking your own network. To be clear: your own! From my perspective cybersecurity is best learned from the attacker's side, but that's a matter of taste. If your English is solid, I recommend David Bombal's Linux for Hackers series.