In a world driven by data, people must learn the basics of protecting data and safeguarding them from malware attacks, unauthorized access, and destruction. There are groups and individuals out there who make a living on selling private and personal data. That’s why it’s important for us—even private individuals—to know how to best protect our data.
What makes data protection even more difficult is that we’re getting more used to putting all of our data in one place instead of scattering copies in secure storage to make sure we don’t lose copies. We have a single smartphone that can be stolen or missing that can contain identification, credit cards, and other sensitive data.
As people living in the world and age of information, how can we keep our information safe from malicious outsider attacks?
-
Use antivirus software
Upon purchasing a computer, you should be able to spot one installed. But the problem is most retailers only pre-install trial antivirus software on their computer products. They’ll require clients to add more dollars on top of the computer’s price for a full version and licensed version of the protection software.
This takes the talk of installing a full-protection antivirus software out of a computer owner that’s on a budget. They may resort to installing trial versions that don’t offer long-term protection. The best way to get around this is to look for the best free antivirus software that has been tested by millions of users around the world.
There are operating systems such as Windows that has an integrated antivirus software called the Windows Defender that works just as well as other antivirus software.
-
Install updates when they come out
Some people may be skeptical of updating their computers because of potential bugs and errors that come with updates. However, operating system updates are required by the system to work without hiccups. They come with security modifications that solve identified security issues in the previous versions.
Updates also help you steer clear of malicious programs programmed for outdated versions of your operating system. The more often you update, the lesser number of malware that can attack your computer.
-
Backup
Even your system tells you to back up your files before doing anything. They tell you this when you want to install software, update, or even reboot your computer. Data can disappear just as quickly as it gets created. That’s why you must have backup copies of important data.
You can make use of cloud storage and external hard drives to do this. Make sure to secure the copies and update the files as needed.
-
Use passwords
Today, you can put a password on anything on your computer. This alone shows how much we value our privacy. If you’re using a shared computer, this is crucial to protect your data from prying eyes.
Make sure to use passwords that aren’t easy to guess, such as your own birthday. Here’s a list of the easiest passwords to crack to help you avoid them.
- Be mindful of what you download
Free games and other software may save you hundreds to thousands of dollars, but the amount of risk you put on your data for downloading them is much more expensive. Unlicensed software is put on the internet by people you don’t know.
They can easily inject malware that will allow them to see whatever is in your computer without you knowing it as you enjoy the free software. They can even turn on your computer’s web camera and spy on you. It’s also a good measure to cover your web camera’s lenses.
The advancements in the world of technology are taking the world by storm. It also takes the importance of data protection notches higher. The more accessible technology is, the more people want access to data. Make sure to put protective measures to protect your own.
