When it comes to cybersecurity, one of the most common responses is to simply tune out. After all, if you’re not harboring top secret information or the owner of a multi-million dollar bank account, no one would be interested in your personal information, right? Unfortunately, this simply isn’t true. According to a recent survey from Pew Research Center, 96% of Americans own a smartphone, and three-fourths of adults, own multiple devices that are connected to the internet. This might not seem like a big deal, but consider the ways you use your smartphone and other devices. Many smartphone users shop online, pay bills online, and some sites even require the use of your social security number. Therefore, it’s critical you stay vigilant in securing your personal information.
While your smartphone may be the device you use the most, you likely have other devices you use at home and in your workplace as well. Your habits in those places don’t only affect your personal information, they affect everyone who uses the network. For most hackers, the way into a network is the weakest link. That means your lax security habits in one area could give cybercriminals access to other information on your device or network. Taking steps to build good habits to protect your personal information will serve as a practice to increase your cybersecurity awareness and potential threat risks on any device.
The short answer is, everyone does. If you’re not already doing everything you can to keep your personal information secure on every device you use, your personal information could be at risk. It’s easy to take advantage of the convenience of technology and skip over essential security steps or cut corners to quickly get to the apps and websites you love. Sadly, the actions that create shortcuts for you also create shortcuts for hackers trying to use your personal information for malicious reasons.
Where to Use Healthy Cybersecurity Habits
It’s common for internet users to assume there’s no need to be concerned about cybersecurity measures unless you’re using a public device. This couldn’t be further from the truth. All too often, cybercriminals who attack major networks aren’t anywhere near the organizations they target. Instead, attacks are carried out remotely with the use of a personal device. If malicious attackers can breach government agencies and major organizations with professional security systems in place, your network at home or work won’t likely pose a challenge. Every step you take to secure your information makes you less likely to become a target. You should observe healthy cybersecurity practices in these areas.
All the tips and standard practices recommended for securing information online are advice every internet user should use every time you access the internet. It’s easy to think the rules are designed for top-secret information, high-tech companies, and major corporations responsible for handling the information of thousands of customers. However, the majority of threat actors don’t prey on major companies and government agencies. Instead, they search for easier targets who skip the security steps that keep sensitive information secure. If you’re completely new to cybersecurity and the actions of keeping your personal information secure, it’s time to start from the beginning with standard tips. Use these tips to keep your personal information safe.
Even if you don’t have a large bank account or a long customer list, your information is important to someone. Hackers don’t need to breach every system they target. They only need to access the ones that provide the path of least resistance. This tactic works for breaches of major systems and personal identity theft. Instead of making your network easily accessible, your job is to make it more secure, so attackers will move on.
It can seem like a hassle when every website you enjoy requires a different password. Let’s face it, you’ll quickly type something in and forget it in five minutes. Of course, that means a forgotten password search in the future, which is even more of a hassle. Your other option is to quickly plug in the stand-by option you use for every website and app on your device. Use these tips to make the most out of the security your passwords are designed to provide.
Texts and emails that target you aren’t necessarily from someone you know. They’re often scammers attempting to access your personal information or to gain access to the entire network you’re using. Phishing scams can be carried out by phone, email, text, and social networking sites. When you get a notice from any of your accounts, avoid clicking on provided links, and instead, access your account through your browser to verify the information.
Software updates aren’t useless suggestions designed to waste your time. Updating your device and the apps you use will provide you with the most up-to-date security features available. Often, software updates are designed to target existing threats and install security patches. To make sure your device is always up to date, turn on automatic updates for your operating system. Additionally, it’s a good idea to use browsers like Chrome and Firefox that receive frequent, automatic updates and keep add-ons updated as well.
All too often, social media platforms can seem like a private conversation between friends. While you’re not likely sharing pictures of your driver’s license or credit cards, you may be accidentally sharing more information than you think. Identity thieves can use personal details from social media to answer personal security questions, find your location, and even get your birth date or the birth dates of your children.
Trusted websites exist for a reason. Websites that provide expensive goods or services for cheap or free are often hiding malicious software that can compromise your device. Never download software from untrusted or unknown sources. Avoid opening attachments you aren’t expecting, and avoid links unless you know who provided them and why.
Leaving your devices physically unprotected means leaving your personal information vulnerable. Walking away from a device while it’s in use could potentially provide complete access to all the information within the device to any passer-by who happens to attempt. If you must walk away from your device, even for a few minutes, lock it up, so it can’t be used in your absence.
You don’t have to do all the work yourself. Many trusted companies provide security features designed to protect your information across all the devices you use. When installing anti-virus software, be sure to download the application from a trusted source. Always keep your anti-virus software updated to ensure you have the most up-to-date security possible.
Even with your best security efforts in place, you could still become a victim of a security breach. If this occurs, the only way to repair your computer is to erase and reinstall the system. If you have a recent back-up, you can be up and running with the most recent updates and all your information just the way you left it.
Online transactions are incredibly convenient and provide you with a way to purchase items you might not otherwise have local access to. They also could potentially expose your sensitive financial and personal information to cybercriminals looking to make a profit. Data encryption scrambles the information you send over the internet, making it difficult or impossible for others to decipher. A lock icon on the status bar of your browser means your information will be safe when it’s transmitted. Check for the lock before you send secure information.
11) Use Safe Mobile Device Practices
Your mobile device is a convenient tool that helps you achieve a variety of daily tasks. It can also be a pathway to your personal information. If you use it to access work or other organizational information, your device can also be a back door to entire networks of information. Always observe these safety practices when using mobile devices.
Online shopping is a great way to pass the time when you’re waiting for an appointment, or on your lunch break. While it seems like a good way to multitask, you should keep your online shopping habits to window shopping when using public Wi-Fi. Most free, public Wi-Fi connections have few security measures in place. This makes it easy for customers to access a network, but it also makes it easy for cybercriminals to gain access to the data of other users. Without the right security measures in place, other users on the same network can access your activity. Feel free to like, favorite, and put items in your shopping cart, but wait until you can use a secure, password-protected network to use your credit or debit card.
When you want to access a website, it can be tempting to bypass the security warnings and browse or shop with abandon. Even worse, it’s easy to access many non-secure sites without even getting a warning. Just like software updates, browsers are continually making advancements to keep information safe online. Always use websites with the “https” prefix and those that include the lock icon that signifies it’s secure.
When’s the last time you checked your privacy settings on your email and social media accounts? If you haven’t checked the settings of your accounts since you opened the account, you’re not alone. It also probably means you don’t know how much of your information is available to anyone who wants to see it or steal it.
The privacy policies of shopping apps, social media platforms, and email services change frequently. If you take the time to comb through the terms of service to understand these changes, you’re likely in the minority. Update your settings to avoid sharing information with websites or apps connected with your social media accounts. Maintaining control over your settings can help you avoid companies that sell your data or browsing history and leave you with little control over your online presence.
The internet provides you with the convenient access of having practically anything you want and need, right at your fingertips. As your tastes change, you can simply move on to something new. While you may never visit them, your old accounts still exist and your data is still stored right where you left it. This means if a company you never use experiences a breach, your information could be at risk.
If you decide to use a password manager to keep up with all the strong, new passwords you’ve created, you can also use it to weed out your old accounts. Review your password manager or notes once a year to eliminate accounts you no longer use. Instead of simply eliminating the account details from your database, visit the site and close your account.
Keeping All Your Personal Information Secure While it may seem like you use the internet for everything, it’s not the only place you use sensitive personal information. When you have so many things to accomplish in one day, rattling off personal information can seem like relaying a grocery list and easily be forgotten. Still, certain precautions must be taken when you’re online and when you’re using any other form of communication as well. Keeping all your personal information secure, requires vigilant habits in all areas of your life.
Before the age of the internet your personal information was confined to paper documents that were either stored in your home or certain organizations. While we don’t use them quite as often, these documents still exist, and it’s still your responsibility to protect them. Additionally, you share personal information in a variety of ways with practically every organization you interact with. Use these tips to keep your personal information secure offline.
Your social security number is a major key that hackers use to steal your identity. Using your social security number as a means of identification should always be a last resort, especially in remote transactions. Never provide your social security number to someone who contacts you directly by phone, email, text, or any other means. When you must use your social security number or that of your child, ask the following questions.
All devices are equipped with optional security measures to keep your information protected. In addition to using healthy cybersecurity practices, utilizing the safety features built into your device can help you avoid leaking your personal information. When you get a new device, it’s important to learn as much as you can about the product and the ways you can use it to protect your personal information. Use these tips to take advantage of the built-in security features included in your device.
Your personal information is only as secure as you choose to make it. If you’ve never taken steps to secure your personal information, the process can seem overwhelming. Instead of procrastinating, take care of each step to build habits that will quickly become the only process you use. To learn more about the importance of cybersecurity and how you can help keep online information safe, contact the security experts at BitLyft Cybersecurity.