For most of us, the Internet has become a necessary tool and a component of our daily life. We use it to send and receive emails, post and share messages and pictures on social media platforms, look for information, shop for clothes, etc. But how does your privacy get affected by all these online activities?
Your ability to manage the quantity of personal information you disclose and who has access to it will determine how private your online activities are. Unfortunately, some of us manage our personal information and online activity in a sloppy and casual manner. As a result, we are open to privacy invasion and identity theft from both legitimate and fraudulent sources.
This is due to the high value of your personal data, which includes your email address, phone number, Social Security number, and other personally identifiable information. Businesses want to know as much about you as possible to sell you more goods and services or provide you with adverts that are highly relevant to your demographics and interests The bad guys will use it to steal from you. So apply these top 8 tips to keep your data private online.
Top 8 tips to keep your data private online
1. Create strong passwords.
Never store your gadget with a password. Yes, it’s practical. Yes, time is saved. Consider a secure password manager if you need to store credentials securely. Criminals are becoming more intelligent, and all it takes is one crack in the system’s defenses for them to rob you blind.
2. Protect your phone with reliable security.
Phones require at least as much protection as other devices. Many security companies supply their services without charge. Because they collect data from your phone, these can be dangerous. Select only a reputable service provider. Numerous capabilities in Norton Mobile Security can shield your phone from the majority of dangers.
3. Back up your data via good hardware or software.
Backing up data is often overlooked, but remains a very important aspect of data protection. Ransomware is a type of attack where hackers hold your data hostage for a ransom. There are cloud-based services that offer backup, or you can opt for Norton Security Premium, which includes backup capabilities.
4. Anti-theft your device.
Tracking apps will aid in locating your device in the event that it is lost or stolen. But how can you safeguard your private information to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands? To totally erase your lost or stolen Android device, you can use the “factory reset” feature of Norton Mobile Security. Your private contact lists, text messages, phone logs, browsing history, bookmarked pages, and any other sensitive information is all included in this.
5. Use two-factor authentication.
With two-factor authentication, you can secure your accounts with Facebook, Google, Dropbox, Apple ID, Microsoft, Twitter, and other services. As a result, you will also need to provide a unique code that the website texts to your phone in order to log in. Certain services demand it each time you log in, while others only do it when you switch to a different device or web browser. An excellent review of the options is provided by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Even though some individuals believe it takes too much time, two-factor authentication does a great job of preventing unauthorized access to your accounts. However, if you value your privacy, you’ll put up with the inconvenience.
6. Bluetooth vulnerabilities.
Personal data may potentially be exposed through Bluetooth gadgets. There are various ways Bluetooth can be used to access personal information. When a hacker connects to a Bluetooth device without the user’s knowledge in order to compromise personal data, this is known as bluesnarfing.
By gaining access to the mobile device or a Bluetooth headset being used, hackers might also listen in on calls. Concerns about denial of service attacks can also apply to Bluetooth devices. When not in use, Bluetooth should be turned off to reduce the possibility of personal data being compromised. Users must also refuse pairing requests from unidentified devices.
7. Public Wi-Fi
While traveling, resisting the urge to connect to insecure Wi-Fi networks could be challenging. In addition to Wi-Fi network security being generally inadequate, some of them might not even be genuine.
The unsecured wireless network may actually be from a nearby laptop or smartphone that is trying to connect to other devices in order to steal personal information if you visit a public location and see “Free Public Wi-Fi” appear on your phone. You should ideally limit your connections to authorised access points with known, trusted SSIDs. When possible, while travelling, use a gadget with 4G or LTE, or even a Wi-Fi hotspot aggregator.
8. Close down any online service that you no longer use.
Many other social networks come and go. If you joined up for any of these, they might have a tonne of personal data about you that you voluntarily provided. However, when these services inevitably cease to exist, they take with them personal information that can be exchanged for cash.
Although no security measure is 100% reliable, there are definitely many things you can take to secure your data. To secure what is yours, educate yourself on the most recent security strategies, employ common sense, and make use of Norton’s high-tech protection tools.