5 Effective Ways To Make Sure Your Online Data Is Secured

Data breaches are becoming scarily common in our digital world.

19:14 05 August 2022

Data breaches are becoming scarily common in our digital world. And when larger companies suffer data breaches and your personal information is leaked, there is nothing you can do to stop hackers from sniffing and snooping around.

 

Fortunately, there are simple ways for you to add some sort of extra defense to ensure your online data is secured. 

 

If you want to prioritize your digital safety but don’t quite know where to begin, don’t worry! This article will provide you with an excellent starting point.

 

Use Unique Passwords

One of the easiest ways to guarantee that your online data is secured is to create and use unique passwords.

 

A quick and effective way to stop hackers from having direct access to your online data and keep it secured is to use unique passwords for every site you visit or are registered on. By “unique” we mean something that cannot be predicted, no matter how many variations of the password the hacker types in.

 

You can use the in-built password generator on your browser or look for an online password manager that may help you out.

 

Use Multi-Factor Authentication

In this age of technology, we’re all about quick and easy access to social media accounts. As great as this may seem, there are many security risks associated with logging in to your favorite social media platform. 

 

Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to this: multi-factor authentication. You’ll begin by typing in your username and password and will then need an additional step such as facial recognition, a fingerprint, a code sent via an app or text, or even a physical security key.

 

With the multi-factor authentication enabled, your password is rendered useless. So if a hacker was to get hold of this, it wouldn’t really impact the outcome. As irritating as it may be to have to constantly verify your identity, adding a layer of authentication could be the one thing that secures your online data!

 

Use A VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) is something you should use any time you connect to the internet via a Wi-Fi network that you do not own.

 

This is because you don’t know a lot about the overall security of the connection, meaning that anyone looking to steal your data could have easy access to it while you are connected (provided they know what they’re looking for).

 

A VPN works to encrypt your data and re-route your internet traffic through a VPN-owned server, keeping your online data private and secure. It also hides your IP address, allowing you to access content that is only available in other countries.

 

Install Antivirus And Malware Protection

Another way of making sure your online data is secured is installing an antivirus and ensuring it is kept up to date. People rarely seem to take cybersecurity seriously, but it’s a must if you want to protect yourself online.

 

Antivirus software fends off computer viruses and unwanted malware, keeping your device safe and useable. It works by scanning any incoming code or files that are passing through your network and identifying any threats. 

 

If anything is detected, your antivirus and anti-malware program will quickly put a stop to it before it can steal your online data or cause irreparable damage to your device.

 

Stay Private On Social Media

We’re enticed into oversharing on social media platforms. While it’s often fun to interact with friends and loved ones on these platforms, we may be giving away too much information to the wrong kinds of people.

 

A great way of resolving this is to not post anything incriminating on social media. For example, if you’re an avid Facebook user and are about to go away on the holiday of a lifetime, wait until you get home to post your photographs and any updates about your experience. This will keep home intruders away while also ensuring that nobody can track your movements online.

 

Though you may primarily have people you know on your social media accounts, you never truly know what people’s intentions are! By staying private and turning off share location settings, you’re all but guaranteeing your online data is kept private and secure.

 

Summary

These are just a few effective ways you can make sure that your online data is secured. Your digital safety is paramount and you must do everything you can to protect yourself online, whether that’s setting up multi-factor authentication or staying more private on social media platforms.