We live in an extremely digitized world, and we share a lot of information about ourselves online, whether knowingly and unknowingly. Many people lack an awareness of the risks may await them in cyberspace, as well as the implications of online data-sharing. If proper precaution is not observed, you can face high levels of danger as far as your data security and privacy are concerned.
Read on for some of the best practices that will allow you to protect your data privacy in 2022.
Check App Privacy Settings and Permissions
Whenever you install a new app or program, make sure you only give it the bare minimum permissions. Go to your device’s app settings, check the permissions and make necessary changes. It’s also important to check your privacy settings regularly. Any information that the app doesn’t need to operate should be switched off. For example, some apps ask you to switch on your location, which allows the app to track your movements. Be sure to switch off all functions that are not absolutely necessary.
Say No to Unsecured Wi-Fi and Use VPN
It’s also important to be careful whenever you use public Wi-Fi. Avoid using these kinds of networks as much as possible and always rely on a private connection. If you ever do need to use public WiFi, make sure you only do so with a VPN. You can install one of the many reliable VPN programs that will keep you safe. While public Wi-Fi will not provide you with adequate data and privacy protection, a VPN service will mask your IP address as well as encrypting the data you send.
Use Credit Cards with Caution
These days, just about all of us use credit cards for shopping and online payments. Some sites will ask you to store your credit card details to make future purchases easier. However, it is not generally advisable to store your credit card details – it’s better to type in the details in for every purchase. You should also steer clear of unknown or dubious websites. Even when you swipe your card on card machines for offline purchases from shops or other establishments, make sure you deal with trusted vendors to avoid ‘card-skimming’ fraud.
Use Strong Passwords
According to Verizon, 80% of data breaches occur due to weak passwords. It’s important to always strong passwords because hackers these days are highly sophisticated today. They don’t guess passwords manually – instead, they use robust computer programs that can guess a large number of passwords in a few seconds. Therefore, it’s important to use long passwords with a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols. Also be sure to periodically change your passwords and use a password manager to manage passwords for multiple accounts.
Beware of Sharing Information on Social Media
Most people are not aware of all of the pitfalls of social media or the implications of what they share over these platforms. Make sure not to share too much personal and confidential information over social media. These days, hackers monitor profiles and collect their information to launch targeted phishing and ‘Social Engineering’ attacks.
Use Protective Software
Hackers today employ a range of sophisticated methods of hacking, phishing, and other advanced types of cyberattacks. Make sure you have installed necessary protective software in your systems, such as antivirus, anti-malware, and anti-phishing programs. You should update your software regularly to keep your data and privacy intact and protect yourself from the latest cyber threats.
Update Software and Applications Regularly
You’re probably using various types of software and applications on a daily basis. Even if everything is working well, you should update your programs regularly to patch any loopholes and ensure you always have the latest and most secure version of each program. If you continue to use the older version of any program, hackers could extracting your important information.
Backup Your Data
Your important data could be lost at any time thanks to a system crash or natural disaster, leading to huge financial and other losses. Moreover, hackers can unleash ransomware attacks where they encrypt and hold your data hostage – you could have to pay a huge ransom to get your unencrypted data back if this happens. The highest levels of data backup will keep you safe from such situations. With proper backup, you can easily retrieve your valuable data and continue your business or other operations without any issues.
Keep Yourself Updated about the Latest Cybersecurity Trends
It’s important to watch the latest cybersecurity news and keep track of current trends to keep up to date with the new types of digital threats. With an adequate level of awareness of data privacy and security, you will be able to equip yourself with the right solutions and precautions to keep yourself safe and secure from hackers and prying eyes.
Individual and businesses alike fall victim to cyber-attackers these days. Large organizations understand the importance of cybersecurity. and implement expensive software solutions to protect their security. Small businesses and individuals should also educate themselves to stay up to date with the latest cyber threats and protect their data privacy.