How to keep your data safe online

Social media, banking, shopping, gaming, watching television, dating, emailing – you name it, we can do it online.

The good news is that we can do all of these things without leaving the comfort of our homes. The bad news is that they usually require a password, personal information and sometimes even our bank or credit/debit card details. This leaves us vulnerable to a myriad of cyber-crimes from identity theft to hacking.

Aside from abandoning the Internet altogether, how can you keep your data safe when you’re online?

Encrypt personal files

Historically, data encryption has always been reserved for the more technologically advanced among us. With cyber-crimes becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s society however, modern tools have been designed to make it possible for anyone to encrypt emails and other personal information.

GPG for Mail is a great tool to use and newer versions of Apple’s OS X operating system come with FileVault, a programme that encrypts the hard drive of a computer. You can find out more by following this link: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204837

Microsoft Office also provides a similar programme to its users which is great for particularly sensitive files.

Backup your data

Backing up your data won’t stop you from falling victim to cyber-crimes but it can certainly save you a lot of hassle if your device is lost, stolen or compromised. Do this on an external hard drive or the cloud so that you can easily recover data should something happen to your phone, laptop or computer. Many businesses especially those who use Data Centres to store their data have automatic procedures in place so that should the worst happen they can easily access a previous version of their data.

Install anti-malware  

Malware is a serious issue so protecting your devices against it is essential for laying a good foundation of security.

Short for malicious software, malware infiltrates your computer without your consent and can include anything from viruses and Trojan horses to very worryingly, spyware.

Don’t think that you’d never fall for a malware scam because it can present itself in many different forms including websites, emails, photos, videos and can even be hidden in downloadable files. Always be on the lookout because malware is sometimes even disguised as an email from a friend or a website you think you can trust (such as a fake HMRC site).

The best way to avoid getting infected is to install a good anti-virus protection programme, do regular scans for spyware and avoid clicking on suspicious links or websites.

Wipe old devices

Whether you’re taking your old computer to the tip or selling an iPhone on eBay, make sure you wipe all your data off your device before you part with it.

Install your updates

When your device urges you to install the latest operating system update, it’s a bit annoying because you’re going to experience some downtime. This is however, a necessary evil. Updates contain important security patches that will protect your device from all the latest threats. Failing to do your updates can leave your device and your personal information vulnerable to hackers.

Educate other users 

If you’re sharing a device with other people, make sure they’re properly educated about the risks and dangers of using the Internet and show them how they can keep their, and your data safe.

For more tips on how you can protect your data from prying eyes, head over to the Norton website: https://us.norton.com/internetsecurity-how-to-ten-ways-to-keep-your-data-private.html