Over 800,000 people are personally hacked every year. Their personal and private data or privileged business data is exposed to hackers and even others on the public web.
Knowing how to protect your data online is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after skills available as hackers get more and more sophisticated.
But what exactly are the top tips for data protection? Are you looking for a crash course in the best things to know when it comes to data privacy and protection?
We have you covered. Here are five of the most interesting facts on data protection.
- Emails Are a Data Minefield
Did you know that nearly 95 percent of malware used to be delivered by email? That’s because hackers know that people do not practice good security measures when it comes to checking their email.
Only click links from sources you trust and if the email address is legitimate. Don’t ever provide financial information over email.
- Your Password is Exposing All Your Data
Over 80 percent of adults have weak passwords. Hackers and bots can easily guess even medium-strength passwords by running them through their systems. Don’t use easy-to-guess words for your password. Use a mix of numbers, cases, special characters, and variations of words instead.
- Data Wiping is the Most Effective Way to Get Rid of Data
Gone are the days where you can just throw away an old computer or hard drive you no longer are using. Hackers can recover private data on these donated or thrown away devices very easily.
Data wiping is the most secure way to protect your data. When hiring a third-party vendor to wipe your data, make sure that they have a data erasure certificate. This will give you peace of mind that they know what they are doing when it comes to data wiping and that no data will be left behind.
- Websites are Following You
Nearly half of all websites are using cookies to track your internet activity, even when you have left their website. A way to protect your internet history from prying websites is to decline all cookies from tracking you.
- You Have Less Control of Your Data Than You Think
Less than 10 percent of people say that they have a good amount of control over their online data. Many people don’t even grasp just how far-reaching companies and websites are into their personal data.
Educating yourself on data protection tips is the best way to start getting back control over your personal data online.
Want to Learn More Data Protection Tips?
Data protection is a critical element to anyone who interacts with the digital world – which is just about everyone. Hopefully, the five interesting facts mentioned above have piqued your interest in taking a more proactive stance on data protection.
If you are curious to learn more about data protection, you are in the right place. Follow along for more articles, covering everything from data erasure, computer wiping, and good cybersecurity measures you can implement in your daily life.
