How to secure information

Definition

Information:

Information is stimuli that has meaning in some context for its receiver. When information is entered into and stored in a computer, it is generally referred to as data. After processing (such as formatting and printing), output data can again be perceived as information.

 EASILY SECURE YOUR  PRIVATE INFORMATION  12 WAYS

 

Protecting your personal information can help reduce your risk of identity theft. There are four main ways to do it: know who you share information with; store and dispose of your personal information securely, especially your Social Security number; ask questions before deciding to share your personal information; and maintain appropriate security on your computers and other electronic devices.

1. Use passcodes for your devices

If you were to leave your smartphone in a coffee shop or taxi, would the person who found it be able to access what’s on it? That’s a scary scenario. Losing your smartphone is one thing, but giving the finder access to everything from your email and social media accounts to all the personal information you may have stored on the device could play havoc with your life. Make sure to use a passcode to help keep your apps, accounts, and personal information protected. Do the same for your laptops and even desktop computers. 

2. Create strong and unique passwords for your online accounts

If you have an online account with a company that suffered a data breach, ideally, that one account is your only concern. But if you use the same login credentials on other accounts, then that single breach incident could give hackers access to your other accounts, as well. That’s why it makes sense to use a unique password for each of your online accounts. 

If you’re like me and have way too many sets of online credentials to commit to memory, consider using a password manager to keep track of those many, unique passwords. There are several out there with different prices and plans, but it shouldn’t take you too long to figure out which one works best for you. Just do an Internet search for “password managers” and see what suits your needs. 

3. Limit social media sharing

Sharing too much on social media may put your personal information in the wrong hands. Pay attention to not only the pictures and posts you share, but also to your privacy settings, as well, so that you’re limiting the number of people who can see what you’re sharing. The Center for Identity at the University of Texas offers tips for managing privacy settings on a variety of social media platforms. If your kids are on social media, you may also want to check their privacy settings. And when it comes to posting, make sure they understand what’s safe to share—and what’s not. 

4. Be wary of free Wi-Fi

You get what you pay for, right? Free public Wi-Fi is a good example. Sure, it’s convenient, but in terms of security, most free public Wi-Fi networks don’t offer much. That means, with the right tools, anyone else on the same Wi-Fi network could be “eavesdropping” on your online activity. Given that, would you want to log in to your bank account or enter a credit card number while on public Wi-Fi? The answer is, no! 

Even a password-protected Wi-Fi network is only as safe as the people who have the password. Save transactions for when you’re on a secure network, perhaps at home. If you must log in or transact online on public Wi-Fi, use a VPN (virtual private network), which encrypts your activity so that others on the same network can’t easily see what you’re doing. 

5. Close unused accounts

Think about all of the online accounts you’ve opened over time. Now, consider which ones are still open, but that you never use. If there’s a breach involving one of those entities, hackers may have access to whatever personal information is tied to that account. An old email account, for instance, could be holding any number of past bank statements and healthcare forms—and those documents may be filled with personal data that could lead to identity theft. Invest some time in identifying unused online accounts and, then, shutting them down. The less personal information you have stored online, the better.

No one can prevent all identity theft, but by using these tips, you’ll help keep your personal information a little more “personal” online—and in this digitally connected age, that’s something to strive

6.Avoid clicking on links or attachments: Cybercriminals do a good job of tricking people into clicking on links supposedly from their bank, telecom operator, electric or gas company, tax service and other legitimate organisations. Think before you click – spelling errors, email addresses that don’t seem right, and out-of-the blue communications from friends should be treated with utmost caution. It’s better to manually enter the URL of the organisation in question to log into your account to verify any communications before clicking. In doubt, call the organization or your friend to verify before clicking.

7.Passwords are the keys to your digital kingdom: Use unique, complex passwords with a combination of lower and upper-case letters, numbers and symbols and do not use the same password across your accounts. Feeling frazzled to remember them all and keep your accounts safe? Use Norton Identity Safe to help protect your accounts with sophisticated, unique passwords, without the headache of remembering which password to use across your accounts.

8.Keep your identity safe. Don't share passwords or choose one that can be easily guessed. Make sure to change them often. And where possible, use two-factor or strong authentication which combines something you know (username and password) with something you have (a credential such as a card, token or mobile phone) to verify an identity or verify a transaction.

9.Back-up your data – If your computer is infected by ransomware, malware or it crashes, the only way to definitely ensure that you will be able to retrieve your lost data is by backing it up and doing so on a regular basis. This also means that if you mislay data or accidentally delete something, it can always be recovered.

10.Ensure that you have a robust and up-to-date internet security package running – With online threats becoming increasingly more sophisticated and cybercriminals willing to jump on any social trend to spread malware, the online threat landscape is changing drastically by the minute. Security software from a recognised name like Norton is the best and safest option when it comes to stopping malicious software from installing on your PC as it can prevent it from taking over or slowing down your system.

11.Keep all software on your PC up-to-date with the latest updates and patches – by keeping your software up-to-date, potential vulnerabilities (including zero-days) can be patched and help keep cybercriminals and hackers at bay.

12.Verify the web site you are on is safe - before entering your payment details into any web site, check that the URL begins with https – the “s” stands for “secure.” If a site has obvious typographical errors, or no evidence of security information or recognised symbols, avoid it. If in doubt, click on the VeriSign tick to verify a site’s identity, and if possible use a high security web browser that displays the green EV SSL address bar.

INFORMATION IS WEALTH ,SO BE SECURE ,STAY ALERT.