oh yeah We made it. That moment we've been waiting for since Monday morning at 8:31 has arrived. It's that magical moment, that moment when the stars move apart and everything makes sense: it's Friday! Time to abandon our zealous commitment to the eternal pounding of keyboards, to leave the bright blue screens behind and, perhaps, to become a little more human (or so we hope).

But, being the bearer of unpleasant realities that I am, I must remind you of a small, but crucial, truth. While you plan to spend the weekend enjoying the sun and forgetting that 18-character passwords exist, hackers… Oh, they sure know how to have a good weekend. They love a good Friday night. But not for the same reasons as us. Whether they're in a dark, dusty place that looks like something out of a sci-fi movie, or just lounging on their couch with a laptop and a snack, they don't bridge. Hackers are here to ruin the party. And I'm sorry to reveal this harsh reality, but when they see you disconnect... that's when they connect.

“But I just wanted a quiet weekend!” I know, my friend. me too

And believe me, my intention is not to spoil the fun for you. On the contrary, I'm here to make sure you can enjoy your rest without worries. 

So here are a few tips to keep uninvited partygoers at bay:

1. Keep your devices up to date. Yes, I too hate those updates that seem to come at the worst possible time, but believe me, there is no worse time than a cyber attack;
2. Avoid opening suspicious emails. If you receive an email with the subject line “You've won a trip to Hawaii!”, you're more likely to end up with a virus than a stay at a five-star resort;
3. Change passwords regularly. Yes, it's a headache. Yes, it's hard to remember them all. But you know what's harder? Recover all your information after a data theft;
4. Remember: if you have doubts about a link or document, do not click. Not that it says you've won the lottery or that you have the opportunity to invest in a gold mine. Surely the only mine you will find will be one of trouble;
5. And last but not least, don't forget to make regular backups of your most important information. Because even if a cybercriminal decides to have a party with your files, at least you'll have a “plan B”.

You see, it's not that hard, right? It only takes a few minutes to make sure your weekend stays free of cybercriminals. 

And now, with a clear conscience, you can go enjoy your Friday. Go to the beach, enjoy a cold beer with some peanuts, read that book you've been putting off, or just relax.

With that, I leave you to go enjoy my own weekend. But don't worry, I'll be back on Monday, unless some hacker decides to pay me a visit… ???