Data breaches and password leaks have affected organizations like Equifax, Facebook, Home Depot, Marriott, Target, Yahoo, and numerous others in the last ten years. If you have any online accounts, at least some of them have likely had data stolen by hackers. Are you interested in learning which of your accounts has been affected? To compare your email account with thousands of data breaches, type your email address into Have I Been Pwned?
Businesses have long prioritized keeping customers' passwords, financial information, and other sensitive personal information safe and secure from outside attackers, but it's becoming more and more important for customers and consumers to heed data protection advice and follow best practices.
For consumers, families, and individuals, there is a wealth of information available on safeguarding passwords, securing desktop, laptop, and mobile devices against hackers, malware, and other risks, and best practices for using the Internet safely. However, there is so much information available—from utilizing a private virtual network (VPN) to creating one-of-a-kind, secure passwords or using antivirus software—that it's simple to become overwhelmed, especially if you lack technical knowledge.
Here are the best tips to avoid losing your online data:
If you frequently use public Wi-Fi networks, it is especially important to take this into account. Passwords, sensitive information, credit card details, or even your entire identity could be stolen from you if someone is monitoring your online activity from the other side. VPNs have surged since the 2020 pandemic as the world shifted online and the average user online became much more at risk.
Your IP address is concealed by a VPN by routing it through a specifically set-up distant server that is managed by the VPN host. Therefore, the VPN server becomes the source of your data when you access the internet using a VPN. As a result, neither your ISP nor any third parties would be able to see the websites you browse or the information you enter. You might think of a VPN as a firewall that interferes with all the information you send or receive. You can also use an extension like a VPN add on Chrome. Even if someone were to obtain this information, it'd be useless. Your VPN can help you with a single or multiple jobs. Additionally, the VPN should be secure from breaches. Any thorough VPN should have these characteristics.
Additionally, everyone should implement two-step authentication for all online accounts whenever it is feasible. Most organizations and big social media companies provide this option. Two-step authentication involves two steps, as the name implies: inputting your password and a unique access code. For instance, the first step is entering your password and username to log into Facebook. The second stage requires you to log in using a temporary code that you receive from Facebook via text message or, preferred, through software like Google Authenticator.
Download the HTTPS Everywhere addon as well. When a website supports HTTPS Everywhere, it will automatically take you there. This makes it harder for an attacker to track your online activity, especially if you're using a public Wi-Fi network like a cafe, airport, or hotel.
Businesses have long prioritized keeping customers' passwords, financial information, and other sensitive personal information safe and secure from outside attackers, but it's becoming more and more important for customers and consumers to heed data protection advice and follow best practices.
For consumers, families, and individuals, there is a wealth of information available on safeguarding passwords, securing desktop, laptop, and mobile devices against hackers, malware, and other risks, and best practices for using the Internet safely. However, there is so much information available—from utilizing a private virtual network (VPN) to creating one-of-a-kind, secure passwords or using antivirus software—that it's simple to become overwhelmed, especially if you lack technical knowledge.
Here are the best tips to avoid losing your online data:
Starting Using VPNs
Typically, your internet service provider (ISP) offers your connection when you go online. It monitors you using your IP address. Your ISP's servers, via which your web traffic goes, can track and observe what you do online. Although your ISP may appear to be reliable, they can be sharing your surfing history with third parties like advertisers, law enforcement, or the government. Your Internet service provider (ISP) is likewise vulnerable to breaches; if they are taken down, your private information may be exposed.If you frequently use public Wi-Fi networks, it is especially important to take this into account. Passwords, sensitive information, credit card details, or even your entire identity could be stolen from you if someone is monitoring your online activity from the other side. VPNs have surged since the 2020 pandemic as the world shifted online and the average user online became much more at risk.
Your IP address is concealed by a VPN by routing it through a specifically set-up distant server that is managed by the VPN host. Therefore, the VPN server becomes the source of your data when you access the internet using a VPN. As a result, neither your ISP nor any third parties would be able to see the websites you browse or the information you enter. You might think of a VPN as a firewall that interferes with all the information you send or receive. You can also use an extension like a VPN add on Chrome. Even if someone were to obtain this information, it'd be useless. Your VPN can help you with a single or multiple jobs. Additionally, the VPN should be secure from breaches. Any thorough VPN should have these characteristics.
Secure your accounts
The best thing anyone can do to safeguard their security and privacy today is to utilize a password manager to create and remember unique, complicated passwords for each account. Despite how intimidating it may be to install password managers after you have, you can simply resume surfing the Internet as usual. The password manager records your passwords as you sign in to accounts and proposes updating weak or repeated passwords. You wind up with fresh passwords for the majority of your accounts after a few weeks. Replace the default passwords for every device in your home that still uses "password" or "1234" as the password, such as your home wifi, smart light bulbs, or surveillance cameras.Additionally, everyone should implement two-step authentication for all online accounts whenever it is feasible. Most organizations and big social media companies provide this option. Two-step authentication involves two steps, as the name implies: inputting your password and a unique access code. For instance, the first step is entering your password and username to log into Facebook. The second stage requires you to log in using a temporary code that you receive from Facebook via text message or, preferred, through software like Google Authenticator.
Protect your Web browsing
Ads and the information they gather are blocked by a chrome extension like uBlock Origin. Additionally, the uBlock Origin plugin stops malware from operating in your computer and provides you with a simple method to turn off ad blocking when you wish to support websites you are confident are safe. Ads won't follow you around as much if you pair uBlock and Privacy Badger, which disables trackers. Disable interest-based advertisements like Apple, Facebook, Google, and Twitter to cut down stalker ads even further. Many websites have ways to decline data gathering, but you must do it manually. For popular websites including Netflix, Reddit, and others, Simple Opt Out provides direct connections to opt-out information. While doing this won't solve the issue, it will suppress the ads.Download the HTTPS Everywhere addon as well. When a website supports HTTPS Everywhere, it will automatically take you there. This makes it harder for an attacker to track your online activity, especially if you're using a public Wi-Fi network like a cafe, airport, or hotel.
