While it is true that digital, social networks, WhatsApp, and everything we do online help us to inform ourselves, entertain ourselves, and communicate, it is also a reality that what we share on these digital platforms can reach unknown hands exposing the privacy of the online data. And so it is very important to secure your personal information online.
Why is it important to secure your personal data online?
Stolen personal data such as phone numbers, passwords, addresses, dates of birth, etc., can be used for crimes in a variety of ways. For example, they can be sold to other criminals and used for account takeover and identity theft. That’s why protecting your data is essential.
Identity theft happens when someone uses someone else’s personal information for the purposes of fraud or other crimes. In practice, this means, for example, using a stolen credit card number to buy goods. Many stores offer billing, installment, or other credit-based payment methods, which criminals can abuse with stolen personal details.
Identity theft can also be used to get someone to borrow money on your behalf. What is important to note here is that identity theft is mainly carried out with credit-based payments and loans. So, your real wealth doesn’t lessen your risk of becoming a victim.
Many may also think that they are too old to be a potential target for identity theft, that they are not so ‘important’ or rich, and that they don’t need to protect their data. However, age is not a barrier. The personal data of the elderly can also be used for fraud.
Furthermore, the elderly generally have better credit than young victims. And finally, seniors may not be as well equipped to detect and respond to identity theft quickly. This gives criminals time to use their personal data more effectively.
That is why we want to give some recommendations for you to take care of the personal information you share on the internet and also protect that of your family, friends, and acquaintances. So, without any further ado, let’s find out how to secure your personal data online.
Configure privacy settings on social networks:
Many times, we do not give importance to having a Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram account that is private. And at the same time, we share a lot of personal information there, from where we are to who our relatives are.
Some even share more intimate details like their home address or their exact location if they’re in a public place, for example. This can reach the wrong hands on the internet and cause risks.
Create a different email for personal needs:
It may seem annoying to have two emails, but this way you will prevent your personal email from being filled with things from work or your professional email from being filled with SPAM from online shops.
If you like to subscribe to pages, blogs, or different platforms, avoid using the email where you have personal or work information. In this way, you can reduce the risk of hacking or information theft.
Avoid uploading highly personal information to the cloud:
If you have the option to automatically save your information to the cloud as a backup on your cell phone, be careful what you upload because once it is on the Internet, anyone can have access to it.
Imagine that photos of your bank cards, your identification, and your passport are data in the public domain. Risky, right? This is why, we recommend you avoid sharing this type of image or private data on digital platforms since they will be stored on your phone, and then, probably without realizing it, you will end up uploading them to the cloud and exposing yourself.
Keep your Wi-Fi network private:
When you have your Wi-Fi network open, you basically give anyone computer-savvy access to everything you do while connected to that network, from the messages you send, the pages you visit, and all the information you share.
Controlling everything that happens on the internet is impossible, but you can reduce the margin of risk. Secure your wi-fi network with an adequate password.
Do not accept a friend request from unknown people on Facebook:
If you accept any friend request, sent from a fake or suspicious profile by a hacker, then they will be able to see everything you have uploaded on your Facebook account. Not only that, but they can also download your personal information and photos. So, it is always advisable to use Nuwber before accepting a friend request from unknown persons. Nuwber quickly delivers accurate data to find and verify people.
Use strong and unique passwords:
Many people avoid forgetting their passwords by putting extremely simple combinations or using exactly the same password for everything. What if someone gets hold of that key and has access to your entire digital life?
Passwords can be a weak link, but using them correctly can help you protect personal information online. When you use a unique password for each online account, hackers cannot break into all of them after stealing it. It sounds very simple, but it is extremely important if you want to protect your identity online.
Passwords must also be complex enough. A simple password can be easily cracked. Therefore, the longer the password, the stronger it is. You can use a phrase and change some letters for numbers.
Use 2-factor authentication:
Also known as multi-factor authentication, it adds another login requirement to your online accounts. It could be your fingerprint or a unique code sent in a text message or to your email. That way, even if someone managed to steal your password, they would still need to get your fingerprint or unique code to get your details.
Get malware and virus protection:
Personal information and passwords can also be stolen from your device. Malware can log your keystrokes and spy on what you are doing on the web. Antivirus blocks malware and prevents it from stealing your information. Antivirus is crucial to protect personal data.
