Be Wary of Scammers
Use Encryption Software
Protect Your Passwords
Always use strong passwords for bank, credit, and other accounts and keep them private. Experts recommend using the first letter of each word in a special phrase. For instance, “this is my account with First Investment Bank” would be “timawfib”. You can also substitute numbers for words. In this example, it could be “t1m2w3i4.” We’re 100% positive that’s impossible to crack.
Back Your Data Up
Data backup is the most obvious and most frequently overlooked strategy. When you back your data up, you create a copy of it, so you don’t lose critical info if one of your devices is compromised, stolen, or lost. According to reports by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Nationwide, an insurance company, almost 70% of small enterprises don’t back their data up. This makes them especially vulnerable in the event of a loss. Both companies and individuals find they incur high costs in their efforts to restore data.
The cloud is a reliable, easy to use, and effective backup option. In fact, it’s the ideal data backup solution, particularly in combination with solid security practices. Data is easy to access even if your hardware sustains damage because it’s not stored on a local device, but in the cloud. This means the provider keeps it offsite. This guarantees effective disaster recovery.
Protect Yourself on Social Media
It’s all too easy to overshare on social media. Apart from the obvious downside to people knowing too much about your personal life – using the information against you – you run a higher risk of falling prey to identity thieves. Cybercriminals will use the information to crack security questions on your social media accounts and get even more information, ultimately stealing the money in your bank accounts. Never post your address, full name, phone number, Social Security number, or account numbers in public domain sites.
Protect Your Computer From Malware
Lots of computer users have struggled with malware. It appears where least expected. You must provide your devices with anti-malware protection. Short for “malicious software,” this computer plague infiltrates devices without your permission and damages them. Malware includes scareware, spyware, computer viruses, trojan horses, worms, and more. Emails and websites can contain it. However, it can also hide in photos, shareware, files, videos, or freeware. The good news is that most freeware and shareware apps and websites are malware-free.
Doing period spyware scans, running a reliable anti-virus program, and not clicking on suspicious sites or email links is the best way to protect yourself.
Use a People Search Service
Finally, we recommend using a people search service to see what information about you is available. These sites pull data from public databases. Have any information you don’t want to remain publicly accessible removed. If you discover inaccurate information about yourself, contact the site where it has been made available, point out the fact, and ask for it to be removed.