Data protection refers to the processes in keeping your data safe online and offline so it cannot be accessed by anybody who isn’t authorized to do so. The level of protection is determined by the value of the data and the hazards that a user faces. With more people accessing the Internet via mobile devices, the threats are changing and expanding at a rapid pace. Hackers are still looking for personal information that they can use to gain access to your credit card and bank account information. However, in this digital age, we appear to have forgotten about physical threats. We were so concerned on safeguarding ourselves online that we neglected offline protection.
Keeping Your Data Safe Online
Here are some internet safety guidelines to help you avoid troubles online.
1. Maintain Professional and Limited Personal Information – Potential employers or clients do not need to know your personal relationship status or home location. They do need to know about your skills and professional experience, as well as how to contact you. You would not give out entirely personal information to strangers one at a time; do not give it out to millions of people online.
2. Use Caution When Browsing – Sensational information is used as bait by cybercriminals. They understand that consumers are occasionally tempted by questionable content and may relax their guard when browsing for it. The Internet’s underworld is riddled with hidden dangers, where a thoughtless click could expose personal information or infect your device with malware. By avoiding the impulse, you do not even give the hackers a chance.
3. Use Strong Passwords – Passwords are one of the most vulnerable points in the Internet’s security architecture, but there is currently no way around them. And the issue with passwords is that individuals tend to use easy-to-remember ones that are equally easy for cyber thieves to guess. Choose strong passwords that are difficult for attackers to decipher.
4. Check the Security of Your Internet Connection – When you connect to the internet in a public setting, such as a public Wi-Fi network, you have no full control over its security. Your local Internet connection is a risky endpoint. Check that your device is secure, and if in question, wait until you can connect to a protected Wi-Fi network before submitting sensitive information such as your bank account number.
5. Make Secure Online Purchases – When you make an online purchase, you must supply credit card or bank account information, which fraudsters are keen to obtain. Provide this information only to sites that offer secure, encrypted connections. Secure sites can be identified by looking for addresses that begin with https: (the S stands for secure) instead of simply http: They may also be identified by a padlock icon beside the address bar.
Protecting Your Data Offline
Physical safeguards are physical methods and procedures designed to protect electronic information systems, as well as connected structures and equipment, against dangers such as natural and environmental disasters, along with unlawful infiltration.
1. Control Access – The most basic physical security measure to secure your data is self-evident: do not let anyone in. Your office must have some form of access control. Adapt the level of access control to your need. If your office is small and only has one door, a simple lock or a stripe reader may suffice. However, if your property is huge and has several access points, you should invest in more advanced protection.
2 . Protect all Portable Devices – Data can be stolen from company cell phones, PCs, or tablets. Furthermore, especially with phones, there is a considerable risk of leaving them unattended and permanently losing them. If possible, establish a secure location where you can put all of your portable devices when they are not in use. Separating such an area may aid in the security of all critical information.
3. Deactivate Drives – Creating physical security restrictions that prohibit employees from utilizing flash drives and other storage devices is one method of securing your data. However, it does not provide you with complete certainty. You can also remove or disable your computer’s USB ports, Bluetooth capabilities, floppy drives, as well as other options of transferring or linking to external devices to ensure the security of your data.
Many people are comfortable with personal data protection, but they should not be. It is important to shop, pay, and play online, but only if you keep your security and privacy in mind. In our digitally evolved society, it is all too easy to overlook the most basic measures. Even if digital security is critical, we must not overlook physical risks, which might pose the same hazard as digital ones. To discover more about IT security, contact Expert IT Solutions.
