Internet: How to Keep Your Information Secure

These days you can’t avoid buying products online or giving your personal information to time-proved websites. Can you really be sure the information is safe enough? Unfortunately, there is a risk that the criminals can access it with 2-3 clicks.

A guide that will help you to keep your information safe over wireless channels includes the following internet safety tips.

• Social media safety

Online safety really plays an important role. Be vigilant in posting some intimate details of your private life on such networks. Even such information as your birthday, address or family status is used by the criminals. For instance, while sharing a post, which contains your personal information, make sure it is visible only for the trusted individuals. By the way, take into account friend requests from anyone you don’t know outside the virtual reality.

• Credit cards protection

While making purchases online and entering your credit card information on the websites, choose only trusted ones. If you are at a coffee shop, for example, there is a chance the unsecured network will play a trick with you. After using public devices, always log out.

• Back-ups

Backing up the information is useful and without risk of loss in case your gadget is lost or stolen. Taking control of the market. Microsoft and Amazon are becoming more and more secure. Data storage clouds are essential to save the important files. Take even Google Drive and Gmail. Group-based and user-based access is of great value.

• Drive wiping and factory reset

Deleting something from your device can provide only permanent removing. Before you decide to get rid of your old gadget, do drive wiping and give it a factory reset. Consider that whoever gets it next will have access to the information you thought was deleted.

• Disabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Turn off these capabilities of your device to protect yourself from open file sharing networks and other ‘neighbor’ devices gaining access to yours. Share information only with the trusted friends.

• Password protection

You may think signing up is time-consuming, inconvenient, and not useful, but it is really in your best interest. But if you decided to do that, avoid using birthdays, family members’ names, and other obvious identifying info. Additionally, try not to use similar (or even worse, the same) passwords for all of your important accounts. One more trick: to avoid cybercrimes, do not use accurate information for password recovery questions.

• 2-step authentication

Such a method is used by trustworthy companies, such as Facebook, Google, etc. It requires one more step. Wanna to sign up? You have to enter a code sent to your mobile phone or give your alternative e-mail address. Additional verification is required if someone (or even you) tries to log in from the unknown gadget. These sites warn even of the suspicious activity in your account.

Protecting personal information should be the highest priority. Start protecting yourself online. Be on the safe side. Do not allow stealing your identity!