In today’s time, our data has become the most sensitive part of our online presence. Due to the high amount of digital footprint we leave behind while simply existing on the Internet, it has become essential to be protective and cautious against your personal data leaks.
Since there has been a steep rise in the consumer base of e-commerce, our data has become even more important since we often provide the sites with sensitive information such as credit card information or our bank account details. Also, it is necessary to protect your passwords online to make your private information safe from intruders.
Here are some ways you can keep your data and privacy intact and safe and secure:
Encrypt your data:
One of the best ways to secure data is to use encryption during data transmission and during its storage.
Encryption is basically the method by which you can change your data by following an algorithm that will make it unrecognizable for anyone without the secret code to recover its original form.
Regularly Update your Operating System:
It is a well-known fact that updating your operating system is something everyone hates to do, but it is essential for the security of your system. Since many updates to the OS also come with security patches that will protect your PC from recently discovered threats.
Secure the Wireless network in your home or office:
One of the best things to protect your data is to secure the network in your home or office with a password, so intruders don’t get access to the data transmitting in your network and easily hijack it.
Another way to do this is to set up your router so that your network does not show its SSID.
Practice the Principle of Least Privilege:
The Principle of Least Privilege states that you should avoid using your computer with administrative powers or Power Mode in Windows. Even browsing on a suspicious site while using an account with administrator powers, the site could delete your files or create a new version on your PC. If you need your administrative powers, make sure you are cautious while using them.
Encrypt your storage devices:
While the data on your devices may be kept safe by a password, the data on your removable storage device is much more vulnerable in case your device ever gets lost; hence it is highly advisable to encrypt the data on your storage devices too.
Choose the privacy settings of different apps on your phones
With the newest Android and iOS devices, you can easily check the amount of data that you have permitted to use for any app. It’s in your hands to decide what kind of data and how much of it they can use, hence as a conscious user, you should make sure to allow the least amount of data to be used by apps.
These apps are often connected with some other services that keep systematic and thorough records of your likes and dislikes and other useful information to sell to consumer product companies.
Enable remote location and device wiping:
This is one of the settings present on many security apps on your phone, through which you can easily track your phone and wipe the contents of your phone if it reaches the wrong hands.
Disable Bluetooth when not in use:
While Bluetooth technology has been revolutionary in the world of connectivity but with it comes the threat of hijackers. Now hijacking your Bluetooth connection won’t be much of a threat to your data but may still cause inconvenience, and the only way to prevent such attacks completely would be disabling Bluetooth completely.
Get Antivirus protection for your phones:
While most people have antivirus protection for their laptops and PCs, they often overlook the importance of such a service on their phones. There is a multitude of options available for protection against viruses.
Use secure passwords:
Your sensitive information protected by passwords can be easily accessed by hackers if you don’t use sensible password creation practices such as using a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters and special characters to create a password that is not connected to any easy to access information about you such as birthdays, pet names etc.
Get rid of data that you don’t use anymore.
You have a ton of data in your phone and other devices. It is important to do away with the data you don’t use anymore. Even if your device is infiltrated, you have given the infiltrator the least amount of information about yourself as possible.
Hence, these steps should be considered by anyone using PCs, mobiles or any electronic device. We live in the age of data and sensitive information such as bank account numbers, passwords, and micro information that we may leave behind on several websites and other platforms. Hence, it is of immense importance for anyone existing in this digital world to be very conscious of their data.
Another way hackers can scam you or make you the victim of their phishing attack is through the old version of the software.
Make sure that your software and operating systems are up to date. Please do not wait for a reminder because you will hit remind me later option that can lead to unusual vulnerabilities in your device.
The attackers can exploit those vulnerabilities of your operating system and software.
By keeping your software correctly managed and updated, you can avoid the chance of being a victim of a scam.
- Make Use of Firewall
If you do not have a surety that you can always keep an eye on the suspicious feelings and activities happening on your laptop or any other device, you should always use firewalls.
A firewall is software that protects your device from any suspicious and unauthorised activity. You can use the software for security, but you can go for hardware if you want a double level of network security.
For avoiding scams and phishing attacks, you can use both software and hardware together. It can provide you with significant protection for your network.
- Block Pop-Ups
Pop-ups are another way in which phishing attacks and major scams happen.
You can make the changes in the security system of your browser so that your browser can automatically block the pop-ups.
In exceptional cases, you can also mention the kind of pop-ups you want to stop.
If you still get caught in a proper, then make sure that we do not hit the cancel button; instead, click on the small x given on the top right corner of your screen.
By hitting the cancel button, you can often get a phishing attack.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can avoid being a victim of a scam or a phishing attack. Also, majorly have an accurate knowledge of the changing phishing attack techniques.
