Do you often wonder why you should protect your online data? The answer to that question shouldn’t be challenging to come up with. However, there’s no definitive answer because the story has two sides. You should protect your personal data because it’s your right to do so. No one should have your ID information without your consent, so why should websites know your name, surname, and IP address?
On the flip side, since you’re using the internet, one of the prerequisites is handing over your data. It’s nicely written in the terms and conditions of the cookies you accept, but you never get told the real truth. The truth is that websites, marketers, internet service providers, and hackers track every click and tap, how much time you spend looking at something, and everything you do online. It’s like they’re behind your shoulder and looking at your screen the whole time.
A clear-cut rule that everyone should follow should be in force, and it should be leaning toward protecting customers. But since that’s not the case, individuals need to take measures in their own hands.
What is your personal data?
Any information that can identify you is considered personal data. Any piece of information that is combined with other pieces of information is also considered personal data. To clarify the latter part, the knowledge from the algorithm for your user profile on Instagram is part of your data. Your Social Security Number (SSN) is also personal data.
Privacy as a concept is rooted in our nature. We feel a need to protect our homes, physical belongings, country, and family. The same rule applies to the digital world. But because the trespassing of these laws isn’t visible, most of us neglect that a crime is happening. Add to that the social, commercial, legal, and technological complexities—online privacy becomes a nightmare for us and a haven for cybercrime.
Let’s take a look at a simple visit to the mall. All those cameras catch your face, record your voice, and can track you back to your home using CCTV. If a hacker wants to, they can find your information by accessing that data. In business, it’s even scarier. Hackers can breach your company and share company data on forums. That includes intellectual property, sensitive data, credentials, and compromised passwords. You’d have to use dark web monitoring tools to find what they know about you. The worst thing about our data being collected is that it’s done in a way we can’t fight back against.
How do you keep your data safe?
There isn’t one method that’s best and works all the time. It’s like asking what is the best way to get from point A to point B. You can walk, run, crawl, drive, swim, fly, etc. All of them will get you there, and you can use multiple combinations based on the terrain. In cybersecurity, the same rule applies. The things that undermine your personal data come from everywhere. Sometimes, they’re harder to stop. Other times, they aren’t. But they add up. Here are the ones you need to be aware of.
Oversharing
Social media puts a spotlight on the hands of every person. It’s easy to get a habit of social media posting and updating an audience about every part of your day. But oversharing gives cybercriminals and bad actors more information than you would ever want them to have. And you do it for free.
If you do a house tour, you’re practically giving them a map of where everything is and a way to get it. Pictures of your passport and a plane ticket mean you’re not home and how far away you are. A screenshot of the run you do every day gives them a clear picture of where you are, alone, at a specific time in the day. Before you post, always ask yourself, what would a hacker do with that information?
Weak passwords for multiple accounts
All those massive data breaches where millions of accounts get hacked happen for one simple reason people use weak passwords, and they use them for every account. It’s the leading cause of such attacks. We’ve all had a weak password before, but now is the time when you need to step your game up. Your password must:
- Contain at least 12 characters.
- Be unique for every account.
- Have uppercase characters.
- Have lowercase characters.
- Have numbers.
- Have special characters.
Smart Devices
Every device connected to the internet is broadcasting and collecting data about you. You have smart TVs, toasters, toothbrushes, water heaters, fridges, watches, and thermostats. The list goes on. Hackers can find out what’s inside your fridge, what’s your body temperature and heart rate, what’s on your shopping list, and when you brush your teeth. You might think no one is interested in that data, but you’d be wrong. These devices make your life easier but increase the risk to your data. Ensure you think twice before buying them, and if you do, they’re connected to a VPN.
Unsecured Browsers
The browser is the primary tool you use to access the internet. Whenever you click on a link, that’s what opens up. Whether it’s Chrome, Safari, Opera, Brave, Edge, or something else, it’s what you use to remember your passwords for you. Hackers know about that, and they’re diving in for the browsers through extensions, malicious ads, and scam websites. Every digital marketer is building a profile on you based on your digital footprint – and hackers have it, too.
Cyber attacks
All the bits and pieces of data that you’ve given come together for one goal – a cyberattack. Using default settings on your online apps, installing every extension that makes your life easier, and having weak passwords make you a prime target. You’ll become a target, whether it be phishing, smishing, or vishing. It’s your job not to be an easy one.
