Digital security should be a chief priority, particularly if you’re on the internet daily. Most people understand privacy concerns, at least at the basic level. According to Pew Research, 86 percent of internet users want more privacy and are taking steps to get it. However, they’re often unaware of some available options.
“At the same time, many express a desire to take additional steps to protect their data online,” the report states. “When asked if they feel as though their own efforts to protect the privacy of their personal information online are sufficient, 61 percent say they feel they ‘would like to do more.’”
If you’re among that 61 percent, here are 10 things you can do to keep your information as safe as possible.
1. Use a VPN.
A virtual private network (VPN) is the most secure way to protect your privacy in the digital age. Think of it as a tunnel between your device and the internet. This tunnel is shrouded in armor like SSL securities and other privacy protection features so that no one can track your online activities.
“VPNs are a way for users to win back some control,” explains a Mashable article. “Remember: All of your information and activity is known to your ISP because of your IP address. By changing your IP address, you can sidestep your ISP and mask your internet activity. A VPN lets you do that by routing your activity through its own servers.”
VPN services are available for anyone, not just those in the commercial sector. Find a great individual VPN to meet your daily browsing needs, and enjoy unlimited security.
2. Encrypt your email.
Email encryption is most often used by businesses that often transmit sensitive information; however, an increasing number of individuals are using it to protect their privacy. When encryption is enabled, it scrambles the information for anyone except the authorized sender and recipient, so even if a hacker accessed your data, they couldn’t read it.
Email encryption can be integrated into your existing email address affordably and is best used when you’re sending highly sensitive information like credit card or social security numbers.
3. Be careful with links and attachments in emails.
Phishing is one of the more common attempts to access an individual’s private information. Fraudsters send emails posing as reputable companies or even people you know to steal personal information. They often use malware, ransomware, and other viruses for the same purpose.
Whenever you receive an email, even from someone you recognize, be careful when clicking on links or downloading attachments. If something seems fishy about the email, simply delete it without clicking further.
4. Look for privacy indicators on websites.
Whenever you’re asked to input sensitive information, such as phone numbers, addresses, or credit card information, check for indicators that the website is secure. If it’s not, you might as well hand your information to a hacker with a bright red bow on it.
Northeastern University in Boston recommends double checking that the web address starts with “https://” first. “Look for a closed padlock in your web browser,” the site also warns. “When you click on the padlock you should see a message that states the name of the company and that ‘the connection to the server is encrypted.’”
5. Use anti-malware and anti-virus protection.
Hackers often use malware, malicious software that enables them to steal or delete information from your computer, often damaging the device in the process. Viruses may do the same thing.
Never operate an internet-enabled computer without installing anti-malware and anti-virus software. It’s free or affordable for your computer. To secure mobile devices, use apps designed for the same purpose.
6. Use strong passwords and change them often.
The average internet user fails in the department of strong passwords that can protect your privacy. According to research, 86 percent of internet account passwords are considered to be “terrible,” because they’re easy to guess. The most common passwords include a variation of 1234567, qwerty, password, abc123, and repeated numbers.
A strong password is your best protection against brute force hacking attempts. Every time you add a complex component, such as a special character or capital letter, it adds another layer of protection to your online accounts.
Additionally, change your passwords often. Many organizations require that their employees change their passwords monthly to avoid unauthorized access to sensitive information. Although a monthly password change may not be necessary for your personal information, consider a change at least once per year.
7. Automate software updates.
Contrary to popular belief, software developers don’t wait until they have a perfect product before releasing it to consumers. Rather, they get it as close as they can with the intention of continually working on plugging privacy and security holes and fixing glitches after it’s been launched. They present these fixes in the form of patches and updates.
This makes updating your software regularly imperative to protecting your information and accounts. Using automatic updating, this is something you won’t even have to think about.
“Many software programs will automatically connect and update to defend against known risks. Turn on automatic updates if that’s an available option,” suggests an article from a cyber security organization.
8. Follow the principle of least privilege (POLP).
In other words, limit the number of people who have access to your accounts. Too many administrators increases your risk for human error and leaves your devices vulnerable to hackers monitoring the web for such an opportunity.
“Do not log into a computer with administrator rights unless you must do so to perform specific tasks,” Indiana University researchers wrote in a Twitter post. “Running your computer as an administrator (or as a Power User in Windows) leaves your computer vulnerable to security risks and exploits…When you do need to perform tasks as an administrator, always follow secure procedures.”
9. Beware of public Wi-Fi.
Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but it’s a huge privacy challenge. About 60 percent of people report using public Wi-Fi on a regular basis, whether they’re connecting to a hotel network or a coffee shop.
Hacking on public Wi-Fi is super easy. Anyone can learn to do it by watching YouTube videos, many of which have millions of views. They might try a “man in the middle” or “evil twin” attack to access information as it travels from your device to the server.
Be very careful when connecting to public Wi-Fi unless you have a VPN. A VPN will protect you from amateur hackers, so you can use free Wi-Fi without security risks.
10. Turn off location data.
Every device has location data that can pinpoint your location. Although the idea is hard to stomach, governments, organizations, or hackers may be watching, and you can prevent their inquiries at a basic level by turning off location services on any device that connects with the internet.
The digital age is constantly evolving, and hacker attempts are growing more complex. Only those who take security threats seriously and work to prevent them will survive with all their personal information intact.