Most Americans today don’t believe that their personal information is secure online and don’t feel satisfied with the federal government’s efforts to protect it.
Highly publicized scandals regarding privacy breaches exposed the information of millions around the world, and the government’s reaction to these scandals resulted in Americans’ low hope for federal action.
Acts of fraud have spiked since the pandemic, with personal information being stolen and sold online resulting in a flood of fraudulent unemployment claims. Cyberattacks like these are considered among the top ten risks to global stability.
So, what do we do to protect our privacy and increase security online? Let us explore some of our options.
Encryption is the best technology we have to protect information from bad actors, governments, and service providers. When used correctly, it is impossible to surpass and gain access to sensitive information.
Ensure you are accessing websites whose connection offers protection, like HTTPS rather than HTTP. A virtual private network, or VPN, encrypts your traffic but can see and store this information, so it is important to find a trustworthy and reliable VPN provider.
Antivirus software protects users against several different kinds of malware, and it is important to keep the software updated and check for display banners to ensure things are on track.
Create unique passwords when creating login information, and enable multi-factor authentication. Even when passcodes are optional, you should create and use one.
Finally, be aware of phishing scams and clickbait messages. Clicking these links allows drive-by downloading pages to automatically download malware and infect the device, always be cautious and only click links from senders you trust.
Cybersecurity can be an anxiety-inducing topic, but there are ways to fight back against information or data breaches and protect your privacy and security online. Take advantage of downloadable software, multi-factor authentication, and encryption services.
It is not only easy to use and manage, but it will protect your information in a world where cybersecurity is a rapidly growing concern among millions.
Leave a Reply