Whether it’s financial records or passwords, data is one of your most valuable possessions. You can’t afford leakage of your data. You have to keep an eye on unauthorized access. Even more important, you must protect yourself from hackers.
In this digital age, data leakage can cause you or your company unimaginable harm. Sometimes a data breach can mean losses, even lawsuits. That said, keeping your data secure can be a headache, especially if you have no strategy in place. Nonetheless, the process need not be complex. This piece will show you how to keep your data safe.
1. BACK UP INFORMATION
It sounds basic, but many businesses and individuals still don’t take advantage of backup platforms. As a way to keep your data safe, backup systems allow you to make a copy of the records. This way, if you lose your device or are a victim of hacking, you still have a way to retrieve your data. As the folks over at BackBlaze.com explain, the cloud is an excellent way to store your data safely. The advantage of this option is that you can access your data no matter where you are. Plus, even if your hardware is compromised, your data remains intact. Backup process is even easier now that you can use a backup software.
2. ENCRYPT DATA
Encryption protects your data from scrambling it so that one can only access it with a key. You can encrypt data on your computer or phone to keep your sensitive emails away from prying eyes.
You don’t have to be a technology freak to encrypt data. iPhone and Android devices have free encryption apps that you can take advantage of. For instance, use GPG for Mail to protect your emails or even decrypt and sign them.
3. PUT PASSWORDS
Passwords and Touch ID are intelligent ways of protecting your phone, tablet, or computer data. Ensure your password is strong by making it long, using a mix of numbers, upper and lower case letters, plus symbols.
The catch is to avoid tying your password to your personal information, making it easy to crack. But creating a solid password is one thing. Keeping it safe is another. Don’t use and save your passwords across multiple sites. If you have too many passwords to keep track of, get a password manager like LastPass to store them.
4. UPDATE SOFTWARE
Another smart way to secure your records is to keep updating your software. If there are updates to be done on your computer or phone, don’t ignore them. This postponement, especially of critical operating system updates, could expose your devices to bugs or other risks.
So, whenever an update reminder pops up, please do it. Outdated software could contain security hitches that have been fixed in an updated version. Windows operating systems require updates at least once a month.
5. LOCK YOUR PHONES AND TABLETS
Although it’s convenient to carry our data around, especially on phones, accidents happen. If a phone lands in the wrong hands without a lock, you could lose all your data. So, the first step to keeping your data safe is always to lock your device. Locking makes it harder for unauthorized people to access your information.
You can choose to protect your phone with a pattern lock, which is secure but not the best. Alternatively, you can use a pin or password to even lock specific apps like games or those with sensitive information. A face scan and fingerprint are also options to consider.
Even if you forget the code you used to lock your phone, this article shows how to unlock your phone using phone unlock codes.
6. USE A FIREWALL
Firewalls block threats from your system. The threats could be harmful programs, viruses, or spyware. You can check for firewalls from software companies. However, firewalls based on hardware offer a more secure environment.
Firewalls not only keep your computer safe, but they can also protect your phone. Try an on-device personal firewall for your phone.
7. GUARD YOUR DEVICE WITH ANTI-MALWARE PROTECTION
Your computer could be protected from threats by an antivirus, but you could still be at risk of a data breach through your phone. So, use anti-malware software even on your phone. McAfee and Kaspersky are some of the antivirus software you can give a shot from Android.
The best way to keep your data safe, even without antivirus, is to download all your apps from PlayStore if you’re on Android and AppStore on iOS.
Are you wondering how to safeguard your private records? Start by backing up your data. Having a backup protects you in case of theft or loss of your device. You can also use free software to encrypt your data and put strong passwords, protecting your details. On top of these, consider getting antivirus and a firewall for your phone.
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