Today is Computer Security Day – a time to recognize that while technological advancements are great they have also brought with them their own concerns about computer privacy and security.

Started back in 1988, the aim of Computer Security Day is to raise awareness about computer security and encourage us to keep our personal online data safe and secure with just a little bit of effort.

We asked Merlin Software’s chief architect, Mike Pnematicatos, for his three top tips for keeping your computer, devices, and personal data secure:

• Make sure your passwords are strong and change them regularly
• Do not use the same password for online banking, email, Facebook or Amazon and so on – keep them different
• Do not use any of the password storage apps unless you plan to implement it across all websites and apps immediately. Otherwise, they become intrusive and stop you accessing websites you have not yet enabled through the master password.  It can get very annoying.

If you are not good at coming up with random passwords, then you can use a random password generator or manager that will mix upper and lowercase letters with symbols and numbers. Passwords are also more difficult to hack the longer they are, so make sure your passwords are at least 15 characters in length.

You should also update all your spyware and malware protection on your personal devices including your phone and tablet – and regularly run scans to check that you remain secure. Still using Windows XP or Vista? This can cause huge security issues so upgrade your operating system to stay safe.

Finally, you can encrypt your files and back them up on a regular basis either to the cloud such as Google’s Drive or to a physical USB drive.

If you are concerned about your resort’s computer security, Merlin Software runs in the cloud.  No servers or IT department are needed at you resort.  It’s all provided as part of the service with professional bank-level security and backup. Give us a call today or complete the contact form to find out more about Merlin Software.