How to secure your data online
Protecting privacy and information has become a challenge with all of the technology used on a daily basis. Information is collected, shared, and sold by companies that are tracking locations, both physically and digitally. Security is more about keeping credit card information from being stolen and preventing hacking of accounts. Identity theft is when someone steals your financial details or identifying information. Privacy is to keep your movements from being tracked for surveillance or advertising purposes. Don’t overshare on social media. Be cautious when posting that personal information is not being shared, home address, drivers license, or even exact locations can all be used to collect data. It is so important to establish good online behaviors and to keep your data secure online.
Password protection
Tips for creating a strong password are don’t use 1234 and incorporate a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters and special characters or use a passphrase. A passphrase is longer than a password and can include something random and unique. It is important to use a different password for each account so that if one is hacked the others are not compromised.
Two-factor authentication is another way to create an additional layer of protection. After logging in with your first password, the site will send a text message with an additional password to log in, unique to your device and time sensitive. It is important to change your password on a regular basis and might even be helpful to secure your accounts by using a password manager to generate complex/strong passwords and never share your password. Lastly, do not forget to close accounts that are not being used and set up your devices with privacy settings that you can use to make it more difficult and unable to hack into if lost or stolen.
Device protection
For your home, a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, can encrypt your information and make it more difficult for others to steal your data online and track your online history. It is very important to have a secure wireless network at home and business. Wireless networks need to be secured with password protection. Encrypt your data on all of your devices and if you back up your data to a cloud don’t forget to delete old information and accounts. When you encrypt the data, it is converted into a code, which helps make it inaccessible to an unauthorized user.
Anti-virus software is used to prevent, scan, detect, and delete viruses from a computer or device. The software can run automatically and can protect in real time against a virus attack. Anti virus software can help to speed up the performance of your device by removing threats. Antivirus software can also include a firewall feature, which can help protect against outside cyber attacks and is part of the network security system. A firewall is the barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted network. Another useful tip to secure your online data is to install all security updates from the companies of your software, devices, and internet browser. This is important because if the company detects a threat it will fix the bug and share the fix with you to help prevent security issues.
Security and privacy are linked. While using the internet companies can track your location, both physically and digitally. The companies can also harvest your personal data without permission, so it is important to be aware of permissions asked for by each app as this can change what data they collect or what information is shared.
Lastly, it is recommended that you download directly from official app stores or delete the apps and use a secure web browser, like Brave Browser that can provide website security for you. Protect your web browsing by using a browser extension to block ads and the data they collect and use the privacy settings on the device. Be aware of phishing attacks through emails and phishing threats through text messages. Never open an unknown link or attachment. These messages can use viruses and malware to gain access to your personal details.
