In this day and age, much of our lives are spent online, and protecting personal information has gotten a bit tougher. We are here to remind you of the importance of data security. Everyone is at risk, but here are some tips to help keep us safe online.
- Keep your computer and smartphone software up to date.
Oftentimes, software updates include an improved version of security that might have been faulty in previous versions. - Create unique & strong passwords
For each account you have, create passwords that are strong & unique - and be sure to change them at least once per year. This can be challenging, but to make it easier, consider using a password manager to store your passwords securely. - Don’t click on links for websites that you don’t recognize.
If the link offering you a deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Do a quick search for their name and “reviews”. This will give you an idea if they’re a trustworthy site. - Don’t give out your personal or financial information to any site if the URL doesn’t start with https!
The “s” means that it is secure, and your browser will display a “lock” symbol before the URL to confirm this. - Install security software onto your computer.
You can often get this for free or at a very low cost from reliable companies. Read reviews and ask for suggestions. - Make it a habit to backup your computer files regularly.
Whether your backing up to an external hard drive or a cloud solution such as BackBlaze, this will prevent you from losing all your data if something goes wrong. And in the event it does, you can install the latest backup to your computer. - Use two-factor authentication wherever possible.
This allows you to be a part of your digital security by approving the request to login to one of your accounts. It also adds an extra level of security to your accounts. - Don’t open emails or attachments from unknown sources.
These can unleash a virus onto your computer without you even realizing it. If you don’t recognize an email, it is best to just delete it. If this is to your work or school email, report it to your IT department before deleting the message. This can help others in your organization from being affected by the email.
Although cyber security risks can affect anyone, following these tips can help minimize the attacks on your personal information.