Vulnerability Scanning 10 Tips Easy to Follow

Vulnerability scanning is a procedure used to evaluate computers, networks and applications for flaws in their defences.

There are many types of vulnerability scanning techniques used but their main endeavor is to search for vulnerabilities present in the device under consideration.

A point worth mentioning is that vulnerability scanning is equally utilized by vulnerability managers and hackers.

The idea is for you to use these tools to identify and fix these weaknesses before someone uses them against you.

Here are top ten tips for being less vulnerable:

1. Keep your systems up to date

Always enable automatic patching on your system no matter the operating system.

Turn on auto update features in specific software programs as well so you are always updated on latest security patches.

2.  Patching

If a new specific vulnerability is updated and the system wide updates is not ready yet to be deployed.

Then you can often download specific patches to patch a security vulnerability before it is getting exploited.

3. Standardize your application software

More software you use, more vulnerable you are.

Try sticking to one type of software for every application and try to use mainstream software because although popular software are more targeted, they do have more experts looking after them and get patched and secured sooner.

4. Block third-party cookies and pop-ups in your web browsers

Even though cookies are an essential component of web usage, exploiters can use them easily against you, so you should block third-party cookies to be less vulnerable when in public networks.

Pop-ups are serious nuisance and not only eat up RAM but can also contain malware.

Blocking them is the only right thing to do.

5. Delete cache more often

Cache registers our browsing and sensitive data.

It contains our daily routine, searches and data which we generally do not share.

In wrong hands, even something as meaningless (for us) as cache can pose threats.

It is a serious vulnerability and cache data should be deleted more often.

6. Use sophisticated passwords

Passwords are our ultimate guardians and being unable to secure them is a serious lapse in your security.

Try to keep long passwords and they should have numbers and alphabets mixed with symbols, if possible.

7. Monitor sharing

You should be aware of what data you have shared, to whom and to what extent.

This can be key vulnerability in your system.

So, be aware of your system’s sharing options.

8. Encryption of sensitive data

Very secure as it may be, you never know when your system may surrender to an intrusion and your data may fall in wrong hands.

This fact calls for an encryption of data.

Encrypting your storage devices is necessary to be certain.

9. Managing alerts

Installing and using more sophisticated software is a very assuring step towards security but more chic the vulnerability scanner is, more alerts there will be.

You should adopt a method of reviewing your alerts in such a way that severe threats may be recognized easily and quickly attended-to.

10. Quantify risks and soft spots

When scanning for vulnerabilities, you should determine your soft spots i.e. which places you never want penetrated and which have low security.

It is obvious your soft spots are important for you and you should increase and better look after them.

These are some of the very basic tips for using vulnerability scanning as a constructive thing. I hope you do!