It’s fair to say that the internet has become a necessity for the modern age. The average person spends over 7 hours online every single day. And while the internet can be entertaining, productive, and convenient, it can also be dangerous.
It’s normal for you to give some of your sensitive information online as part of the consumer experience, but cybercriminals are increasingly searching for this information. The number and frequency of data breaches, such as phishing and hacking, keep rising every year, making online security a huge issue.
When it comes to personal data, it’s best to be proactive instead of reacting to a data breach’s effects. If successful, data breaches often end up in identity theft, money loss, violence, and fraud.
Taking charge of your personal data should be a priority if you want to be safe from such threats. In this article, we’ve highlighted some of the best practices you can take to help you secure your personal data and stay safe online.
Create strong passwords for all your user accounts
Creating strong passwords is important for safeguarding your personal data online. Passwords serve as the first line of defense to your user account. And although you might have heard of this before: don’t use names related to your loved ones, pets, or beloved places.
In other words, make it hard for hackers to guess your passwords and gain access to your account. And not only that, but don’t use the same password for different accounts. Although it sounds straightforward, you’ll be surprised by how many people do this.
According to a new survey from TechRadar and OnePulse, about 60% of people reuse the same passwords for multiple accounts. This makes it easy for cybercriminals to gain access to your personal data.
Instead, use a password generator when signing up for an account online. Or better yet, consider a password manager, as these tools generate and store complex passwords. This eliminates the need to memorize all your passwords.
Add an extra layer of security using multifactor authentication (MFA)
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is an essential layer of security that helps protect your personal data. MFA requires a person to provide more information than just the password to authenticate the user profile when logging into an account.
For instance, have you ever logged in to an account and it required you to give a fingerprint or a randomly generated number sent to your phone number? Those are a couple of examples of this system.
Adding an extra layer of security through multifactor authentication is a smart move to safeguard your personal data and stay safe online.
Be cautious with public Wi-Fi networks
Restaurants, airports, coffee shops, and train stations all offer free and convenient Wi-Fi. But however convenient these networks may be, they pose a cybersecurity threat because they can expose your personal information stored on browsers and related apps.
Most public Wi-Fi networks are unsecured, meaning they can be easily compromised. But if you must use these networks, we recommend using VPNs as well. VPNs are easy to use as they mask your IP address and encrypt your internet connection. This makes it incredibly challenging for cybercriminals to intercept your connection and steal your data.
But when using public Wi-Fi, never log in to your online banking account, make any purchases, or access any website that requires you to give sensitive personal data. It’s also wise to turn off automatic connections to public Wi-Fi networks across your devices.
Be careful with what you share online
Be mindful of the information you share online, especially on social media platforms or community forums. Personal details such as your full name, home address, phone number, or financial information should not be publicly shared as they could be used against you or compromise your privacy.
Think twice before posting sensitive content. And not only that, but it’s important to review and adjust your privacy settings on social media platforms and other online accounts.
If you value your personal data and privacy, you’ll take the time to understand the privacy options available to you and choose the settings that provide the highest level of protection.
Regularly update your device’s software
Every app that you interact with, including your operating system, is software that requires regular updating. Although these updates improve functionality, they also bear vulnerability patches and security updates.
And because of this, it’s always a great idea to regularly update your operating system, web browsers, and antivirus software.
Don’t just click on any link that you receive from your emails or SMS
If you receive an email or message with a link encouraging or persuading you to click it for a reward or anything else, be cautious and double-check. These links could trick you into giving away your personal information or downloading malware or spyware.
One of the biggest threats to personal data and online security involves sending malicious links through emails and messages to unsuspecting users. This is what the law terms as phishing.
According to one survey, over 300,000 internet users fell victim to phishing attacks in 2021, accounting for half of all users who encountered a form of cybercrime. This means that there’s a high likelihood you might receive an SMS or email containing a phishing scam.
Be extremely careful about clicking on links from unfamiliar or suspicious emails.
Use cookie management techniques and plugins to stop trackers
Online privacy remains a growing concern as websites continue to use cookies to track user behavior and collect personal information. One way to increase your online privacy is by taking control of your web and browser cookies and adjusting browser settings to block or delete them.
Other things that you can do include:
- Install tracker blockers as part of your web plugins to detect and block tracking technologies websites use.
- Install ad-blocking plugins to block intrusive ads that often track user behavior while collecting data.
- Opt for private browsing modes that don’t store cookies or browsing history.
Conclusion
Taking control of your personal data is vitally important as it helps you keep your information safe. If this information is compromised, it can be used by malicious parties for fraud, identity theft, and phishing scams.
For this reason, we recommend using a password manager, applying multi-factor authentication, using private browser settings, installing strong, reliable security software, keeping your software up to date, and being mindful of the information you give online.
Using a VPN is also a great way to increase your online privacy. But ultimately, your zeal for learning and following the latest in cybersecurity will help you stay safe.
