With the increased use of cyber technology lately, there has been a rise in cybercrime and data breaches. Keeping your information private is a major concern now due to the frequent incidents of hacking and ransomware. Not only is this personal information important for hackers to extract money, but a lot of companies also track your data online in order to offer you their products and services according to your surfing preferences.
It is frustrating to know that online users somehow seem to cooperate in giving out their personal information through means they are completely unaware of; for instance, paying bills with credit cards, logging in all their personal information to create social media accounts, accepting cookies while browsing, or playing games online for hours. Also, with the increase of technological inventions, more and more use of the internet takes place, leading young adults to spend hours and hours on social media platforms or playing games online. All this sums up to a rise in the threat of leaking your personal information.
Here are a few ways through which you can protect your information online:
Use Antivirus
Not having antivirus software installed on your computer is one of the most common causes of ransomware. If your computer is infected with any kind of virus or malware, it is easier for hackers to penetrate through the firewalls and lock your information and important files. A certain amount of the ransom is asked from you to unblock this data. Hence, reinstall your anti-virus software as soon as your old one expires and make sure to keep it updated.
Always Keep Passcodes for Devices
Be it your mobile phone, tablet, or your computer, passcodes are a must to have on each of them. These devices carry some of the most important information, and if stolen, files and data can be easily accessed and misused. Take the security a notch up and use a six-digit passwords instead of 4 digits, and use biometric authentication if the feature is available for your devices.
Cyber Security Services
A large corporation carries an unimaginable amount of private information, which is absolutely necessary to protect. These companies need to hire specialized cybersecurity services that are trained in high-end network consulting and in developing strategies that promptly secure your digital data. The team at GASystems uses varied types of security defenses that are implied according to the needs of the respective companies. Highly devised cybersecurity solutions are required for huge corporations to protect discrete data from unfathomable levels of cyber-attacks.
Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi
Using public Wi-Fi does not provide you with secure encryption, and thus it is easy for other users to access your information through your devices. You might think that public Wi-Fi is password protected, therefore, safe to use, but all other users have their hands on this password and can enter your terrain easily. Even though it may be absolutely necessary for you to use it, you should not enter or log on to any website with your personal details, especially your credit card numbers and similar details, which are extremely important. You can also use a VPN (virtual private network) to block your activity from other users to ensure privacy.
Use Private Browser Windows
Almost every browser now has the option to offer you private browsing, which you should make use of all the time. Surfing privately can hide your browsing history, the record of the files you have saved, and delete all cookies. It hides your IP address from other sources and provides secure encryption. This can easily save you from potential cyber-attacks and from constant advertisements and marketing campaigns from companies who use your private information and surfing patterns to know your likes and preferences. You can also use a VPN or a proxy server to protect your private browsing.
Use Cash Instead of Cards
Another simple way in which you can save your information from being public is to use cash instead of credit cards and debit cards when buying stuff, especially with insignificantly small items like alcohol. The information about your purchase can easily go to numerous advertisers and marketing agencies, which can bother you with constant sales tactics. Buying stuff with cash notes and coins keeps no record of your credit cards and can save you from the hassle.
Shut Down Your Device
This point is often ignored by many users, and they simply put their devices to sleep or shut the lid down without actually turning the device off. If your computer is on most of the time and if you are connected to the internet, it is possible that hackers could plant malware or infiltrate your device with a virus, causing chaos. Whenever not in use, you need to shut down your device completely without fail.
Practice Encryption
Encrypting your devices and SIM cards is one way to be safe, making it much more difficult for bad people to crack your data. Although it is not impossible, it takes more work, and they simply do not have the time for it. Removable storage devices such as SIM cards and USB sticks are more prone to being misplaced, and hence your information can easily land in anyone’s hands. Even if you find them back, they have the possibility to carry viruses and malware which could infect your devices, making it easier to lose all data.
Speaking of encryption, using messaging apps that carry end-to-end encryption is also equally important. ‘Encryption in transit’ is not the same and carries the possibility of your servers, gathering all your information, some of which could be extremely private. Know the difference and use applications accordingly.
Cybersecurity is extremely important in today’s world, given the number of cybercrimes that are recorded on a daily basis. These tips are extremely simple to follow in order to be secure from the risky world of online. It would take a few steps for hackers to use your information and cause identity theft unless you start taking a few steps to be secure.
