Recently there have been security and privacy breaches in giant tech companies. Unfortunately, the breaches affected not only the companies but also their users as well. Besides breaches, most of the time we aid cybercriminals in getting our personal information effortlessly. We are giving it to them freely, in other terms, we can say we are breaching our security and privacy.
There are a lot of things that your personal data can achieve when in wrong hands. For instance, it can aid in identity theft, doxing, and even used by unethical companies to push ads to you. Cybercriminals might even use the little available information about you to propagate complex attacks.
In a nutshell, internet security and privacy risks affect everyone, and it’s our responsibility to ensure we are safe. At a personal level, here is how you can ensure your internet privacy and security is not breached;
使用强大的密码
Passwords are like keys, and we use them when logging in to our systems, social media accounts and everything that we aim to protect. The problem is that most individuals don’t know what passwords are secure and they end up using weaker passwords. Weaker passwords are like vulnerabilities waiting to be exploited. Setting strong passwords is an easy task, there are even password generators to help you with that. But if you want to make your own, ensure its at least 8-12 characters long, and it should include; alphanumeric, special symbols, some letters may be in CAPS to not make it predictable. It’s also wise not to use the same password for your other different accounts.
安装更新
您设备的操作系统、安全软件和浏览器应保持更新。这是因为每天都有新的漏洞和错误被发现。如果不尽快修补这些漏洞，代价可能会很高。只要有网络，就应始终启用自动更新功能。这样就不用担心使用过时的软件了。
避免使用不安全的 Wi-Fi热点
Connecting to unsecured public WIFI hotspots is just like inviting thugs into your house. Cybercriminals can use various techniques to steal your data and breach your privacy while you are using unsecured WIFI. Conventional methods include spoofing, man-in-the-middle attacks, and eavesdropping.
使用 VPN
A VPN (virtual private network) is like a swiss army knife when you want to protect your internet security and privacy. Through encryptions, a VPN ensures your internet traffic is secure from prying eyes. A VPN also assigns you a virtual IP address, and this ensures your privacy remains intact when surfing the internet.
切勿打开不熟悉的电子邮件和链接
Unfamiliar emails regularly tend to be spam which can be used to propagate phishing attacks. These attacks can then be used to steal your information or even other people’s info. Spam emails also come with malicious attachments or links which either you are directed to click or download. Never do that.
避免在社交媒体网站上过度分享
在社交媒体账户上发布过多信息会危及您的网络安全和隐私。这些信息可能会被有心人收集起来，然后用来敲诈或诽谤你。请务必限制在社交媒体或可公开访问的网站上分享以下信息：您的全名、地址、账号、电话号码甚至社会保险号。
底线
互联网隐私和安全对确保您的互联网安全至关重要。您应始终采取预防措施，确保您的数据不会落入坏人之手。
