Smart devices, ranging from phones and tablets to industrial sensors, are used in our day-to-day lives and rely heavily on being connected to an internet network. This makes them vulnerable to threats coming from malicious actors online.
In this article, we’ll discuss the methods of IP hygiene that all users should include in their routine, especially for protecting individual devices used for online trading and transactions. The depth and complexity of such activities depend on the number of devices a person has and how they utilize them.
What Do We Mean by IP Hygiene?
IP Hygiene refers to a set of practices that should be employed to protect, manage, and monitor Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, thereby ensuring a secure network environment. These practices should be implemented when using digital currency for crypto sports betting sites or when trading cryptocurrencies online.
Securing smart devices means preventing unauthorized access, ensuring they are only connected to secure networks, monitoring IP traffic to identify suspicious activities, and maintaining data integrity. In most cases, these goals can be achieved by establishing safe practices and routines and sticking to them.
Use Strong and Safe Passwords
Using a strong password is the first and simplest step towards securing your devices. A strong password should be at least 12 characters long and include a combination of numbers, letters, and special characters. The best approach is to use a password-generating app and change them regularly.
It’s equally important not to rely solely on passwords but to use two-step authentication for every transaction. This requires the user to confirm and authenticate a transaction via a second device. It usually means that they are provided with a one-time password sent via email or text message.
Regularly Updating Software
Firmware and software used to run smart devices receive numerous patches and updates as the teams behind them continually work to improve them. However, many users overlook these updates and refrain from running them to save time.
It’s essential to regularly update the software, even if it requires temporarily turning off the device. The safest bet is to make updating a regular practice and to do so in regular intervals regardless of the size of the patch. Others opt to install an update as soon as they are notified, even if they are using the device at the time.
Segment Networks
Segmenting networks refers to the process of isolating devices from the rest of the network, thereby enhancing both the security of individual devices and the overall network security. For instance, devices such as TVs, gaming consoles, and phones could be connected to a LAN network used by the home, while tablets and computers used for banking and trading purposes should be segmented into separate networks.
It contains breaches if they ever occur, making it easier to monitor traffic on segmented networks and reducing exposure when using devices with weaker security.
Disable Unused Ports and Services
Every smart device comes with a set of services and communication ports that are used for specific tasks. That doesn’t mean that the user has a need for all of these options or that they will use them. For instance, services such as Telnet, SSH, FTP, and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) are always enabled, but most users don’t need them.
Turning off these services and ports that aren’t being used reduces the risk of intrusion attempts. It also makes the network simpler, and therefore, threats are easier to detect. There are easy-to-use apps that can help users find such ports, though shutting down services requires a modest level of technical knowledge.
Monitor Network Traffic
Monitoring network traffic is an essential part of good IP hygiene and securing your smart devices. The data flows in the background in between your devices, sometimes without users even knowing about it. By monitoring this activity, the user can identify unusual patterns and respond accordingly.
To do so, a user should first establish a baseline of what normal network traffic looks like. That way, they can use a firewall that logs the traffic and notices when it deviates from the baseline.
Implement IP Whitelisting
Whitelisting refers to setting up a list of trusted IP addresses that are allowed to access the network. It reduces exposure to threats and provides tighter control over the overall traffic.
To implement it, users should configure the network router to allow traffic only from specific IP addresses. This doesn’t mean, however, that process is done. It’s important to regularly review the allowed devices and IP addresses, deciding which ones to remove and which ones to keep. Staying vigilant and organized about security is always the safest practice.
Enable Device Logging and Audit Trails
Device logging and audit trails provide users with visibility into how and when devices are used. Logging enables users to track a list of unusual and unauthorized activity, alongside the usual and authorized uses. Audit trails, on the other hand, take this one step further, as they turn that data into a timeline of actions relevant to security.
To use these tools effectively, it’s imperative to enable the logging features that the devices come with. There should also be a centralized log system that the users can organize, follow, and review on a regular basis.
To Sum Up
Ensuring that you have a system in place for implementing security measures in terms of IP will make all the devices you use safer and more secure. This is particularly important for users who have multiple devices and use them for various purposes. Having measures that distinguish between risky uses (such as sending funds or sharing private data) and ordinary ones makes managing risk easier.
Most of the measures we’ve described are easy to achieve, even for users who aren’t tech-savvy. The key to online security is to have a system in place and to stick to it, even when it’s not the fastest or most convenient way to use online devices.
