Some may have forgotten, over 50 million Facebook users had their personal data exposed in a security breach back in 2018. In addition, 87 million Facebook users had their data sold to Cambridge Analytica without their consent. There is value in our personal data, the stuff that tells the world who we are, what we like, how we plan our day, and what ails us
It includes anything that can identify you as an individual, such as:
- Name
- Current and previous addresses
- Birthdate
- Email address
- Results of scans and tests related to health
- Passports, driving licences, etc.
- Data about employees
- Details about your bank account and other finances
- Credentials to login
- Data on location
- Information about biometrics
- Views on politics and religion
This list is by no means exhaustive.
The number of identity thefts is also on the rise.
>>>Related Post: Are you in full control of your data?<<<
But what do cybercriminals do with our data? Our personal data is misused and abused in the following ways:
- Used for secondary attacks such as fraudulent loan applications
- Fraudulent accounts are set up to commit fraud
- Your identity is used to access health services
- Payments made fraudulently
- Blackmail and extortion with data
- Phishing attacks that target specific individuals
Then there are account takeovers. There has been a threefold increase in this most sinister of attacks. Having access to your online account gives cybercriminals access to a lot of personal and sensitive information.
It’s time to take the gloves off and fight back against those who would impersonate us, sell our personal data, and use our digital existence to enrich themselves.
You can protect your computer, tablet, smartwatch, mobile, smart TV or laptop, thus prevent your personal data from becoming someone else’s by following these 10 steps.
1. That link isn’t worth clicking!
What to do: Email links should not be clicked. In the browser, manually type the URL of the service you want to access.
Why: According to Microsoft’s Security Intelligence Report (SIR), phishing remains the most popular cyberattack method.
30 percent of people clicked on links in spoof emails in a Data Breach Investigation’s Report we carried out recently for a large tech company where we emailed its own employees, the results were astounding.
Employees soon learnt to click the link will expose personal data and/or install malware on your device, which will, ultimately, steal personal information, so never click the link.
What’s more, even the best Virus, spyware or malware removal service in the world even cannot save you from this as the user by clicking the link is at fault.
2. Return for a second factor.
What to do: Log into accounts with a second factor (2FA) and use long passwords instead of short ones, we wrote more on password safety in a previous blog here.
Why: The importance of robust authentication cannot be overstated. The likelihood of losing personal information due to phishing or other unauthorized access is reduced if you use a security code when logging into online accounts.
3. Someone is listening (to digital assistants).
What to do: Make sure you regularly delete recorded conversations on whatever device you use, be that mobile phone, smartwatch, tablet, Smart TV or PC etc, if you use a personal assistant. If you aren’t using your digital assistant, mute it as well.
In connection with this, the Internet of Things (IoT) often relies on your personal data to perform a task or simply to prove your ownership. Personal data held within the IoT should be protected in the same way as any other data.
Why: Alexa has revealed personal information without consent in some cases. An Amazon Echo user recently requested their data under GDPR’s “right to access” rule.
He also received 1700 voice recordings of an unknown individual in addition to his own data. Another instance involved Alexa sending private conversations between a married couple to a coworker.
4. Delete old files and keep it clean
What to do: Replication of data should be kept to a minimum. Delete old files you don’t need. Paper documents and mail should be shredded.
Why: A watchword in cybersecurity is “de-risking.” There is no such thing as 100% security, but reducing the number of places where a compromise can occur can help reduce risk for any computer user.
5. Reduce your social media presence
What to do: Keep your social media data to a minimum. Dates that you will be away from home and personal details like your mother’s maiden name, favourite pet name, etc.
Why: Cybercriminals have access to an open pool of data on social media at will. You should not give hackers an easy way into your online accounts by providing information such as your mother’s maiden name etc.
6. Don’t sync for the sake
What to do: Turn off automatic file and media sharing unless it is absolutely necessary.
Why: Many devices automatically set up cloud sync when they are first configured. In other words, you could end up storing personal and sensitive data (including images) in a cloud repository when you don’t need to.
7. Take the beaten track
What to do: Each app, be that on PC or mobile phone, should be configured to disable location tracking.
It is also possible to disable Android Device Manager, but it can be a double-edged sword since it can help you locate a lost phone. Check your apps’ privacy policies as well.
Why: In a recent study of almost 1 million Android phones, tracking data was regularly collected by apps effortlessly because of this very reason it should be disabled.
8. Bluetooth should be left to sleep
What to do: Switch off Bluetooth if you are not using it.
Why: Data can be stolen through Bluetooth vulnerabilities. BlueBorne is a vulnerability that affects all Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices.
9. You should use encryption
What to do: Encrypt your hard drive data and use apps like Telegram to share personal information.
Why: Since 2013, almost 13.5 billion data records have been lost, but only 4 percent of them were encrypted. Loss or theft of data can be prevented with encryption on PC, laptop or mobile phone.
10. A patch in time
What to do: Update your computers and mobile devices regularly.
Why: Malware can infect your device due to software vulnerabilities. Online accounts and data are stolen by malware.
>>>Related Post: Are you in full control of your data?<<<
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