Your online privacy is one of the most important elements of your digital security strategy. Once your information is out there, it can be very difficult to lock it down again. Think about what you share on social media, how where your information is listed and in relation to what other information it’s linked to. Whether it’s your home address or your email address, if hackers can identify a weakness, you are more vulnerable than you think. To help you stay ahead of the threat, here are a few tried and true tips to help you maintain your privacy and avoid common threats online.
Get Password Savvy
As we’ve seen so often in recent years, the use of the same passwords for personal and professional accounts is a real problem. The same passwords used across multiple different accounts and the use of easily guessed passwords is still one of the top entry points for hackers to gain access to personal or sensitive information. If your employees are guilty of the common sin of using the same password for their corporate accounts as they do for their personal accounts, you are leaving your company exposed and vulnerable to the same level of security that their personal accounts support.
Take the Dropbox and LinkedIn hacks of recent years. These corporate attacks were facilitated because users were using the same password on their personal accounts as their professional ones. It’s not enough anymore to have just one strong password. You need to be one step ahead of the bots and cybercriminals that are looking for an easy mark.
Protect Your Logins
Certain apps are particularly guilty of practices that allowed researchers to gain login information, log into accounts, and send messages as another person all within the app itself. This was most effective for Android users, as there are free apps available on the platform that allow hackers to break into the phone and become a superuser. The hack can then give the superuser full access to dating app accounts, message viewing abilities, and any other function that could result in leaked data. From a corporate perspective, this is especially dangerous because the vulnerability can provide hackers with easy access to corporate email, data, and networks if the mobile device is unprotected.
Deactivate Old Accounts
Personal information is endlessly vulnerable on websites and social channels that you are no longer monitoring. As such, if you still have profiles, online documents, or accounts that are no longer front and center in your mind, it can add to your digital vulnerability. Deactivate old accounts as soon as you know they are no longer a priority. It can make a world of difference.
Invest in Your Own Defense
If it’s been a little too long since you’ve updated your digital security systems, you are not doing yourself any favors in prolonging the update. In fact, delays like that have led to substantial hacks that lost companies millions of dollars. Individuals too can benefit from updates to anti-virus software or digital security systems. Make sure your personal and professional devices are protected, and you’ll be much better off in the long run.
For more advice on staying safe online, connect with the digital security experts at Happy Faces Records Management today.
