8 Ways to Prevent Personal Data Breaches | Free Antivirus
The first thing that comes to mind when choosing a protection method is the installation of special applications or antiviruses. But, if you believe the practice, this is not enough to protect data. You need to learn to distinguish between malware and ransomware. In addition, passwords should be improved, made more secure, and much more. It is very important to take care of the security of data stored on your smartphone and on social networks in particular.
What actions can be taken to protect personal data?
1. Using Public Wi-Fi Safely
Every day, a huge number of people check their bank accounts or shop online using public Wi-Fi. Sending something personal to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram this way is not safe at all. This should only be done when using a secure connection. It is important to only connect to HTTPS (where "S" stands for SECURE) and under no circumstances to HTTP. In this case, you need to pay attention to the "lock" near the beginning of the link line, it indicates a secure connection.
2. Using a VPN outside the home
VPN is the most reliable thing you can use when connecting to Wi-Fi in public places. But in this case, which VPN is used when connecting to the network plays an important role.
3. Password protection
They should be as reliable as possible. The password must be at least 8 characters long, including upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. It seems difficult to come up with such a password and especially remember it. We have a few suggestions: think of your favourite movie or book and take the first two letters of each word, add your favourite number and period to it - that would be a great password. Of course, you can add something else or change the characters, while trying to make the password long and memorable. Alternatively, you can use the LastPass password manager. It is not recommended to use the same password for different accounts and programs.
4. Multi-factor authentication
Most websites and social media have the option to log in using multi-factor authentication. The strength of authentication systems is mainly measured by the number of layers or layers. Systems using multifactor authentication are considered to be stronger than those using only one factor. How it works? For example, to access your Instagram account, you need to not only enter your password but also receive a PIN code to your phone number. Thus, if someone else wants to log into the account, the system will ask him for data that he certainly does not have access to. Multifactor Authentication provides additional security by adding new protections such as SMS, pin codes, phone calls, email, and more. The more layers, the higher the security level. Instructions for connecting multifactor authentication can be found in the social network access settings.
5. Ignoring suspicious emails and messages
You should not open suspicious links in emails or messages. Your best bet is to delete spam or strange-looking messages without opening them. When receiving an unusual message from a friend or relative, it is best to contact them and ask if they have sent anything before clicking on the link.
6. Avoiding the dissemination of personal information
Be very careful with everything you post online. First of all, with data such as credit card number and password information. You can use virustotal.com to check websites and files. Also, turn off geolocation on photos that you post on social networks. More importantly, avoid posting photos or videos of personal documents or tickets. After all, hackers can get a lot of information from a simple ticket to a concert or plane. For example, in March, a former Australian prime minister posted a photo of his plane ticket, and it took hackers less than 45 minutes to find out his phone number and passport details.
7. Using antiviruses and services to protect against malware
We recommend installing antivirus software and a firewall. That being said, it's important to remember to update them when needed. There are many different products to be found on the Internet, but it's important to be aware of the risks. It is not recommended to download software from suspicious websites, and only trust official ones. Free Antivirus will help you identify threats and protect your device.
8. Disable infrequently used functions and applications
When connecting your phone or computer via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, it is important to remember to disable these features when not in use. These actions can prevent hackers from gaining access to devices.
How to identify a hack and what to do next?
These things are usually indicators of a hack:
- Ransomware message - Fake antivirus message
- Strange browser toolbars
- Internet search redirection
- Random pop-ups
- Invitations in social networks on your behalf that you definitely did not send
- Internet password does not work - Unexpected software installation
- The mouse moves by itself
- There is no money in the online account
- Hack message
- Leak of confidential data
- Strange network traffic patterns
- Lack of access to your social network account even if the password is correct
What can be done? If, for example, a social network (or any other account) has been hacked, the first thing to do is regain control. Try contacting the company that owns the app that has the account. Each company has its own procedures and steps to recover from a compromised account. Their contacts can be easily found on the Internet. If the account is still available, it is important to check the settings to see if they have changed, for example, whether emails are forwarded to a different account. Of course, you need to change the password for the account that was hacked, as well as for anyone else using the same password. Therefore, taking care of the security of personal data is not only important but necessary. The best defence, in this case, is to prevent break-ins in advance. And the above methods can greatly simplify this process.
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