Secure Your Online Information and Preserve Your Cyber Privacy
In today's digital age, the internet has become an integral part of our daily lives, offering faster, more reliable processes and increased accessibility. However, with this convenience comes the risk of data breaches, where private information can be unauthorisedly accessed, copied, or changed. To effectively protect your personal data, follow these best practices.
Strengthen Your Online Defences
- Use strong, unique passwords for every account and manage them with a trusted password manager. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security beyond just passwords.
- Browse in anonymous mode (such as Incognito or Private Browsing) to limit tracking, and consider using privacy-focused browsers like Mozilla Firefox or Brave paired with private search engines like DuckDuckGo or Startpage to reduce data collection.
- Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection and hide your IP address from service providers and potential attackers.
- Limit site permissions, disabling unnecessary access to your location, camera, and microphone unless needed for specific tasks.
- Use end-to-end encrypted messaging apps and encrypted email services to secure your communications from interception.
Keep Your Software Updated
Regularly updating your operating system, browsers, antivirus, and other software can help patch security vulnerabilities that cybercriminals might exploit.
Adjust Your Privacy Settings
- Adjust social media privacy settings to minimise publicly visible personal information that could be used in social engineering or identity theft.
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi without protection; if necessary, use a VPN to secure your connection.
- Employ privacy-enhancing browser extensions like ad blockers (e.g., uBlock Origin) and anti-tracking tools (e.g., Privacy Badger) to reduce invisible tracking on websites.
- Be cautious about accepting terms and conditions that share data with third parties.
Be Wary of Suspicious Activities
- Avoid storing sensitive data on public or shared storage services.
- Double-check the sender before clicking any link that redirects you to another page.
- Public WI-FI networks at airports, hotels, cafes, or restaurants can potentially expose your information to hackers.
- Be skeptical when browsing the web and be aware that phishing scams may not always be obvious.
- Signing up for a credit monitoring service can help keep track of payments associated with an account.
- Make sure to visit secure websites (HTTPS) at all times, especially when entrusting them with sensitive information like bank details.
By following these best practices, you can create a strong defense against online data breaches, increasing your control over personal data privacy while surfing the web.
Seek Compensation for Negligence
If your data has been breached due to negligence by an individual or company, you may be eligible for compensation. Visit databreachclaims.org.uk for more information.
Sources: [1] Cybersecurity & Privacy, [2] StaySafeOnline, [4] Electronic Frontier Foundation
- To fortify your data against cyber threats, incorporate cybersecurity measures such as strong passwords, two-factor authentication, privacy-focused browsers, and end-to-end encrypted messaging apps into your digital routine.
- Keep your technology secure by regularly updating your operating system, browsers, antivirus, and other software to ensure the protection against newly discovered security vulnerabilities.
