This summer disconnect from everything but your online security

A number of security measures are in place to monitor our data protection and effectively secure our computer systems against potential breaches or threats. Today we are going to go over five of the most important:

1. Monitoring and limiting access to data and information

Every time we enter a website and accept the terms and conditions without giving it a second thought, we put our security at risk. We must consider the conditions you accept and be vigilant about the information we reveal when entering certain websites.

We are often asked for more than just basic data, and we do not stop to consciously consider the information we are revealing and how it may affect us. Whenever we can, we should encrypt the information to limit access to our data by third parties.

2. Creating secure passwords

Although password security is becoming increasingly important, we have not yet internalized the effects that misuse can cause. To be considered a secure password, it must contain at least 8 characters, an upper-case letter, a lower-case letter, and special characters. In addition, it must not contain personal information or preferences of any kind, and it must be completely random and different for each website. It is neither recommended nor safe to use the same password for all your online accounts.

3. Protecting your email

As email has become an essential service for everyone, it is one of the places where most fraudsters look for their victims. Phishing, the act of obtaining credit card details, is an example of this.

That is why it is important to properly protect your email accounts by installing anti-spam filters and encrypting messages. Bear in mind that no bank will ever ask you for your personal details via email, so if you receive an email from your bank asking you for personal details or passwords, call your bank to verify the request.

4. Visiting secure websites and making secure purchases

We tend not to notice whether a website is secure or not, and this can have serious consequences. By simply clicking on a link, a lot of data can be stolen and unintentionally made available to fraudsters. If you want to make sure you are visiting a secure website, look to see if it contains “https://” in the URL.

Meanwhile, more and more websites are implementing new payment methods and verification services before making a purchase. This is all part of paying close attention to security when making a purchase online.

With the arrival of summer and vacation just around the corner, we tend to forget about our computer security when we are away. However, it is important that you do not let your guard down and that you follow a series of security measures before and during your vacation.

First, when booking your vacation and following the guidelines mentioned above, pay close attention to the websites you access while searching, as well as the booking and payment methods used on them.  Look to see that the URL contains “https,” also a padlock symbol on the side, and make sure the business’s information is clear.

Furthermore, before you leave on your trip, make sure that all the devices traveling with you are properly updated, as you may not have the tools to do so at your destination.

Be careful with wireless networks and free Wi-Fi on your trip, as many of them will not have an efficient security system and could lead to breaches in our devices.

Likewise, avoid downloading applications or services offered on the Internet. If you must do so, check the conditions thoroughly before accepting them.

Finally, be very careful when using computers or devices that are not your own, and try not to provide any personal data, especially credentials or bank details. And as we mentioned above, always close all sessions.

RELATED ARTICLES: