The internet is often referred to as the information superhighway, but it’s also rife with scammers, hackers, and cybercriminals eager to steal your personal information. To protect your passwords, Social Security number, and account details, it’s crucial to secure your devices, network, and data. By doing so, you can keep your sensitive information out of the hands of cybercriminals as they navigate the superhighway.
Secure Your Devices Keeping your security software, internet browser, and operating system up to date is essential. Cybercriminals are constantly searching for vulnerabilities in software before developers can patch them. Regularly updating your software ensures you have the latest security patches and protection against threats.
Protect Your Personal Information and Data To keep your data safe, regularly update your security software, operating system, internet browsers, and apps. Most developers offer options for email alerts or automatic updates—don’t ignore them. These updates are vital for keeping your information secure.
Make sure to update:
- Security software: Whether pre-installed or added later, your antivirus or firewall programs must be current.
- Operating system: This includes systems like Windows, macOS, or Chrome OS.
- Internet browsers and apps: Developers release updates to fix security flaws, address bugs, and introduce new features.
Staying current with updates is a key defense against hackers.
Secure Your Accounts After securing your devices, focus on protecting your accounts, particularly those that store personal information such as your banking, email, and social media accounts.
Create Strong Passwords Passwords should be at least 12 characters long—the longer, the better. Consider using a passphrase composed of random words for easier recall while maintaining security. Avoid common words or phrases, and consult a Password Checklist for more tips.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication For added security, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your accounts. MFA requires two or more forms of credentials to log in, such as:
- Something you have: A code from an authentication app or a security key.
- Something you are: Biometric data like a fingerprint, retina scan, or facial recognition.
MFA significantly reduces the chances of unauthorized access, even if someone obtains your password.
Choose Unique Security Questions When selecting security questions, choose ones with answers only you know. Avoid questions with answers that can be easily found online, such as your zip code or mother’s maiden name. Opt for questions with more varied answers and consider using random responses—just make sure to remember them.
Back Up Your Data Regular backups are crucial to safeguarding your files in case of a virus, crash, or hack. Aim to back up your files at least once a week to avoid losing important data like photos, documents, and other files. If you ever need to restore from a backup, it will be as current as your last backup.
Two common backup methods include:
- Cloud Storage: Services like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and iCloud offer online file storage. Many provide free storage options with additional paid tiers. When using cloud storage, ensure the provider has strong privacy and security measures in place.
- External Storage Devices: A USB flash drive offers an affordable option with moderate storage capacity, while an external hard drive provides more space, faster data transfer, and higher reliability. Some devices even allow you to schedule automatic backups.
Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing programs may offer free music and videos, but they also pose risks, such as:
- Strangers accessing and sharing your personal files.
- The program inadvertently sharing files and folders you didn’t intend to share.
- Accidentally downloading malware, pirated content, or inappropriate material.
If you choose to use P2P programs, ensure you scan all downloaded files with security software before opening them. Avoid any program that asks you to disable or modify your firewall settings, as this can compromise your computer’s security.
Protect Your Home Network Securing your home network is critical for safeguarding your information. Think of your router as the gateway between your devices and the internet. If malware infects one device, it can spread to others connected to the same network. Therefore, the security of your devices, accounts, and network starts with your router.
Report Identity Theft If you suspect your accounts have been accessed or your personal information stolen, visit IdentityTheft.gov. The site provides guidance on checking whether your identity has been misused and outlines steps to report and recover from identity theft.