Data Protection Tips: Easy Ways to Keep Your Data Secure on Devices from Cyber Threats

The decade of the 1990s was marked by an increase in the use of the Internet, which led to the creation of new markets and industries but also brought with it a number of issues. For example, people’s email inboxes were inundated with massive amounts of spam, while computer viruses wreaked havoc on the information technology infrastructure of businesses. In addition, theft has been redefined to include the dishonest acquisition of sensitive data, in simple words, hacking, or data theft, such as financial information, personal identity information, and trade secrets, as a result of the proliferation of new types of cybercrime.

In 2022, the world population was finally recorded to be 8 billion; unsurprisingly, internet users reached close to 5 billion, more accurately, 4.95 billion at the start of 2022l (Digital 2022: Global Overview Report; DataReportal – Global Digital Insights, 2022).

If this is the number of internet users, this is the number of people at risk of having a data breach. You might be one of them too. As you are reading this article online, a hacker somewhere in the world is trying to pass through your wall and breach your data. In this article, we will guide you through some data protection tips that you must need to keep yourself safe online. Let’s get started, then.

Protecting Browsing Online

Many businesses and websites keep tabs on users’ every move in the virtual world. In today’s online world, your location and surfing habits are tracked by every ad, social network button, and the website you visit. The websites you see on a regular basis supply all the data advertisers need to identify what might catch your interest. One of the most problematic aspects of the Internet is the prevalence of targeted advertisements.

One of the most practical applications you can use here is a VPN, named “virtual private network,” a VPN will ensure your safety online. The operation of a VPN is simple. It encrypts your data to a level that is next to impossible for anyone to understand and hence impossible to decipher. In fact, it changes your IP address which your ISP cannot trace, and if you are using public Wi-fi, no one at all. We always prefer using a VPN for your safety and other benefits that pique your interest. VPNs can be used on mobiles, laptops, computers, and TV.

You can also use a browser extension. With a browser extension, ads and the information they collect won’t show up. They stop malware from running in your browser and make it easy to turn off ad blocking on sites you know are safe when you want to support them.

Antivirus Software

It’s easy to get your hands on malicious software or a virus for your computer. Antivirus software protects your computer from harmful programs and other code that is not intended to operate on your system. Viruses can have both visible and subtle consequences, such as reducing system performance or erasing data.

In order to keep your data safe and your system secure, antivirus software is an essential component. There are antivirus programs that can automatically update themselves, protecting your computer from the latest threats as they are identified. However, it’s crucial that you actually utilize your antivirus software after you’ve installed it. Regular virus scans, or a scanning schedule, can help you keep your computer infection-free.

Secure Passwords

When you are using a password for an application or website, these are kept saved online, and it is likely that you keep them held on Google for your convenience. However, if your Google account faces a data breach, so will your numerous other ones. Hackers can quickly crack passwords, especially if the person creating the password does not follow secure password development guidelines.

The most secure passwords use a combination of capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and various punctuation marks, as suggested by most password-oriented applications. You should also avoid using words or alphanumeric combinations that are easily guessed. This includes things like the names of children or pets, birth dates, residences, and other similar information that can be quickly guessed by someone looking at your Facebook profile or conducting a Google search.

Avoid Spam

You may get hundreds of emails per day, out of which some may be highly useless with something catchy attached to it like a lottery win or “A chance to win $5000”. It is implausible those are authentic; however, we tend to click those to see where it leads us. It is not only dangerous but also very unsafe for your personal data. Once you click, viruses enter your device, and that’s enough time for hackers to steal your data. So, you need to avoid spam emails and any links you come across.

Clear Old Cloud Data

Suppose you are diligent about backing up your data and are not using a reliable cloud storage solution to do it; you should reconsider. Deleting old data is made more difficult by using cloud backups, as well as any other type of data backup. It is vital that any files you delete (or overwrite) on your local devices be removed (or overwritten) from any backup services you use. You need to use good cloud storage to make sure your essential backed-up data is secure.

Conclusion

The world’s evolution is surely making things a lot easier for us, but technology can never be 100% efficient, so we face data threats every day. However, prevention is better than suffering and risking something that might cost you your entire life’s work. So why wait? Make your data safe and secure, and use the Internet as independently as you want.