Can you name some ways to protect your data
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Cyberattacks don’t only happen to large corporations. Small businesses, groups and charities have to protect their IT systems, too. Show
Here are some practical steps you can take today to tighten up your data security. 1. Back up your dataCreate a back-up copy of your data, and do this regularly. Store it somewhere other than your main workplace, if possible. That way, if there’s a break-in, fire or flood, you don’t lose everything. Top tip: If you’re using an external device as your back-up, you’ll need to encrypt it. It’s also a good idea to store it in a lockable cupboard or room if you can. 2. Use strong passwordsMake sure you, your staff, volunteers, and anyone else involved in your operations uses strong passwords - including smartphones, laptops, tablets, email accounts and computers. 3. Take care when working remotelyMake sure the devices you use are as secure as the equipment you use in the office. Also be mindful of your surroundings. If you’re on a train, for example, it’s relatively easy for other people to see your screen. 4. Be wary of suspicious emailsEducate yourself and those working for you on how to spot suspicious emails. Checking for obvious signs such as bad grammar, requests for you to act urgently, and requests for payment will help you avoid being caught out. If it looks suspicious, don’t trust it – and warn your staff not to either. 5. Install anti-virus and malware protectionAnd keep it up-to-date. The National Cyber Security Centre has some useful advice and guidance on cyber security. 6. Don’t leave paperwork or laptops unattendedData breaches can occur when staff and volunteers leave paperwork or laptops unattended. This could be in the boot of a car, on a train, or at home. Make sure you take steps to protect the personal data you hold by being vigilant and storing it securely away when it’s not in use. 7. Make sure your Wi-Fi is secureUsing public Wi-Fi or an insecure connection could put personal data at risk, so you should make sure you always use a secure connection when connecting to the internet. 8. Lock your screen when you’re away from your deskAnd make sure your staff do the same. Taking steps to lock your screen when you leave your desk is a simple thing to do, but will prevent someone else from accessing your computer. 9. Keep on top of who has access to whatYou have to restrict who has access to your IT systems and buildings – you can’t let just anyone in unaccompanied because this will leave your systems vulnerable. The fewer people with access, the better. Visitors should be clearly identifiable. Make sure you limit IT access to people who work for you, where possible. If someone leaves your company, or if they’re absent for long periods of time, you may want to consider suspending their access to your systems. 10. Don’t keep data for longer than you need itStaying on top of what personal data you hold will save you time and resources. It will also help you with your data protection responsibilities. Only keep what you need, for as long as you need it. 11. Dispose of old IT equipment and records securelyBefore you get rid of them, make sure no personal data is left on personal computers, laptops, smartphones or any other devices. You could consider using deletion software, or hire a specialist to wipe the data. This will ensure no one can access information they’re not supposed to see when you dispose of the equipment. Also see:
Toggle previous updates to the documentationLatest updates 08 August 2022 - We added to an existing tip about working remotely to help businesses be mindful of their surroundings. Operating systems and applications can always be reinstalled, but your data is unique--making it the most important thing on your computer or network. Here's a look at 10 ways you can protect that data from loss and unauthorized access. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of cyber attacks on organizations and individuals has exploded. It is therefore more important than ever to keep your data and your privacy online safe. Here are some tips to protect your personal data online. 1 – Remember physical securityFirst of all, the quickest way to secure your data is to protect your devices. Having physical access to a device makes it super-easier for an attacker to extract or corrupt your personal information. Do not leave your device unattended in public or easily accessible areas. Always keep your device password-locked (both while not being in use or after finish using it) and disable all lock-screen notifications (these are personal information, or email notifications that can pop-up throughout the day on your phone screen when it’s locked – You’ll find the way to turn them off in the Settings/notifications menu of your smartphone). Protect your device against physical theft. Also, keep your workspace safe : don’t leave your devices unattended on your desk. Be sure to lock your drawers if you keep your laptop or tablet in them. 2 – Disable remote connectivitySome mobile devices are equipped with wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth. This means it can be used to connect to other devices or computers, and a hacker could easily reach your data this way. To ensure your privacy safety, you should get into the habit of disabling these features when they are not in use. 3 – Encrypt your files to protect your information onlineIf you are storing personal or corporate information, see if your device offers the option to encrypt the files (We’ve indicated several tools below). An encrypted file means that the file is scrambled with a “key”, i.e. thanks to a secret code that only you (and the people to whom you give access to this file) know. This technique allows you to secure your data by hiding them in a cryptic text. Even if a hacker or unauthorized people can get access to your file, they won’t be able to read it. Be cautious, though when using encryption : you must remember your passwords and passphrases. Because if you forget or lose them, you may lose your data. 4 – Be cautious with public Wi-Fi networksBefore you connect to any public wireless hotspot – like on an airplane or in an airport, hotel, train/bus station or café, keep in mind their network could not be as secure as it should be. In this case, your data will no longer be safe and it will be very easy for a malicious person to intercept it. When you want to surf on a site where you may have to give personal information, it is best to wait until you have access to a secure wi-fi network to ensure that your online privacy will not be threatened. For all the cases where you need to connect to an unknown wi-fi network, follow these tips:
And for your data safety, once again, don’t forget : refrain from doing online shopping, banking, or sensitive work when using a public wireless network. 5 – Always backup your dataGet into the habit of backing up your data to protect it from any kind of risk. This is probably the best tip of all for protecting your personal information online, since you’ll be able to recover it if you lose access to your data. As a rule of thumb, you should backup all your data regularly (every week, for instance). Create at least 2 copies, both encrypted. One shoud be kept in an external hard-drive (disconnected from any network) and the other should be transfered on a secure cloud service. This way, if your external hard-drive crashes, is stolen or destroyed, the data stored on the cloud will remain safe. 6 – Update all your software whenever you’re notified to do soInstall updates for all your software as soon as you receive a notification. Updates often contain security patches to fix flaws in the software. These flaws could allow hackers to infect your device with a virus or malware. For example, a keylogger is a software that allows a hacker to know all the keys you activate on your keyboard when you type… It’s handy for him to access your passwords and other data such as your bank account number! Don’t compromise your data security by failing to follow this easy-to-apply tip. 7 – Use two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever it is offeredYes, it’s true… 2FA implies setting up a second authentication method (in addition to log in with your ID and password), usually typing a code sent on your phone by the website you want to connect to to prove you’re actually the user you pretend to be. And having to wait for the text message containing the code to confirm your identity is sometimes annoying. But this little inconvenience is nothing compared to what awaits you if someone manages to get hold of your email or bank accounts passwords. This tip requires a little patience to keep your sensitive data safe, but it is definitely a small price to pay. Plus, it’s quite easy to set up. 8 – Use antivirus software on all your devicesVirus, worms, trojan horses, spyware, keylogger, ransomware, … The list of different types of malware is already long, and it is likely to continue growing while you read this. And all these programs have only one target: your data! To protect your personal information and your privacy, it is therefore critical to install antivirus software on ALL your devices, including your smartphone. But beware: for the protection provided by your antivirus to be really effective, it is necessary to update it regularly. This way, it will constantly integrate the most freshly discovered malware. 9 – Use passphrases instead of passwordsThe longer a password is, the more difficult it is for a hacker to discover it and ruin your personal information safety. The ideal is therefore to use a sequence of words or a phrase to obtain a very long password. For you, it will only be a phrase to remember. The title of your favourite song? The advertising slogan you find the most absurd? The motto that inspires you the most? You choose! Any of them will do, provided you don’t re-use a password you already have picked for another website (all passwords must be unique). Also, if it’s not already the case, use a password manager (LastPass, Biwarden, Keeper) to store your passwords in safety. There are plenty of password best practices you might want to use. 10 – Manage cautiously your privacy settingsMost apps allow you to determine your privacy settings preferences, and you should always chose the more private option. Never forget that all your apps are constantly collecting data about you. Why do they collect all this data? Probably to sell it to the highest bidder… who will use it to build a profile of you to be even more persuasive to sell you their stuff. If you want to protect your privacy, protect your data from this systematic collection. 11 – Don’t disclose any personal detailsWhen someone asks you for personal information by email, phone or SMS, think about it carefully before answering the message. Are you sure that the person you are talking to is who they say they are? Most organizations that might need this information already know about it, or have as a rule never to ask it to you. It could be a fraudulous attempt to get some of your information as part of a pretexting attack or a quid pro quo attack. If the request seems justified, respond to the message with this company’s email address, phone number (found on their website), or by logging onto this organization official website. Also, never keep any unencrypted file containing personal data on your computer or your smartphone. It would be easy for a hacker to get it and steal your data. Check our email security and privacy awareness course to discover all our tips against Social Engineering. 12 – Use recommended tools to protect your dataThe following tools/services will help you encrypt your data, surf the web more securely, and protect your data or your privacy from being compromised. VERACRYPTVeraCrypt is an open-source encryption tool used for on-the-fly encryption (OTFE). It allows you to encrypt a hard disk, a USB key, and to add enhanced security to the algorithms used for system and partitions encryption. It will protect the integrity and confidentiality of your data, even if it’s challenged through a brutal-force attack. HTTPS EVERYWHERE HTTPS Everywhere is a browser extension that encrypts your communications with many major websites, making your browsing more secure. It actually advances your connection to SSL where its available. This increases your overall web surfing security to a good extent. SIGNAL MESSENGERUsing Signal, you can communicate instantly while avoiding SMS fees, create groups so that you can chat in real time with all your friends at once, and share media or attachments all with complete privacy. MAILFENCETalking about secure online communications, email is the first thing that comes into mind. And Mailfence – an encrypted email-suite that offers end-to-end encryption, digital signatures and 2FA – ticks all the boxes ! Especially when you consider it includes a Calendar with polls and groups management, an instant messaging service and a document storage and management tool – all secure to protect your personal information. Want to improve your email data security ? Check out our 10 tips and best practices for email. Our 12 tips will help you keep your data safe and secure in all situations. Start improving the security of your data by getting a free Mailfence account! What are 3 ways in which you can protect your data?Here are some practical steps you can take today to tighten up your data security.. Back up your data. ... . Use strong passwords. ... . Take care when working remotely. ... . Be wary of suspicious emails. ... . Install anti-virus and malware protection. ... . Don't leave paperwork or laptops unattended. ... . Make sure your Wi-Fi is secure.. What are the ways to protect your personal data?5 simple steps to protect your personal information online. Stop giving away your personal information.. Check your mobile app permissions.. Review your security and privacy settings.. Use passphrases.. Use Antivirus software and install the latest software patches.. What are the types of data protection?Top 7 types of data security technology. firewalls.. authentication and authorization.. encryption.. data masking.. hardware-based security.. data backup and resilience.. data erasure.. Which of the following protects your data?Encryption—alters data content according to an algorithm that can only be reversed with the right encryption key. Encryption protects your data from unauthorized access even if data is stolen by making it unreadable.
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