How to Fully Secure and Take Control of Your Data

Whether you run your own business or not, you need to take active steps every day to keep your sensitive data fully secure. But taking control of that data can be a daunting process if you do not know where to begin, so check out the helpful tips below to get started and to ensure your information will not be left vulnerable to attacks from hackers.

Have a Backup in Place at All Times

First off, you want to begin by always having at least one method by which you can constantly back up your data as it is updated. You can invest in cloud server technology, which ensures your data will be secure even if your computer and hard drive backup fail, but you should also have other copies of your data. In fact, the more copies you can create, the more of a backup you will have. So in addition to saving your data on your computer, you can back it up using a hard drive and the cloud, and you can also enlist the help of Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) so you can get back on your feet right away and continue working even after disaster strikes.

Always Encrypt Your Data

Another way to fully secure and take control of all of your data is by using data encryption technology. This will make it impossible for anyone else to read and steal your information from any of your devices. There are many tools available that allow anyone to easily encrypt information, including emails and files.

Install Anti-Malware Protection

You have many options today when it comes to anti-malware software that will fully protect your computer from malicious software that could steal your data. Malware includes worms, viruses, spyware, and more. With so many threats out there that you can fall victim to every time you log onto the Internet, visit websites, and check your email, this is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to keeping all of your important information and data as secure as possible.

Install a high quality anti-malware piece of software from a reputable developer, and make sure to scan your computer regularly. Keep your operating system and apps up-to-date as well in order to reduce the risk of someone hacking into your system. And don’t forget to install and enable a firewall for extra protection at all times.

Be Careful When Sharing Your Information

When working online, you always have to beware of impersonators that are hoping to steal your financial information and other personal data. To stay safe, never freely give out any of your personal information over the phone, via email, through the mail, or on the Internet. Unless you have initiated the contact with the person or company, or you can verify that you are certainly dealing with a legitimate individual, you should never give out any information that could be stolen and used to steal your identity.

Be Careful When Clicking Links in Emails

Today’s hackers are very clever, and they are not above sending out phishing scams via email in order to trick people into giving them their personal information. You may receive what looks like a legitimate email from a company that you do business with, such as your bank, when, in reality, it is actually an email meant to impersonate that entity and get you to click on a link that will download malware onto your system or encourage you to share personal information that can then be stolen.

To stay safe, never click on any links in emails, no matter how legitimate they may seem. Always go directly to the website of the company that is writing to you, log in, and see if what is in the email is true. You can even contact customer service to verify the authenticity of the email, or you can hover your mouse over any links to see a preview of the URL that it will take you to. If it looks at all suspicious, block the email sender with your spam filter and report the email to the entity that is being impersonated.

These are just a few of the many ways that you can keep your information secure and private today. Remember to be careful whenever you go online, as there are many threats that could compromise your sensitive data. With the right tools and strategies in place, you should find that your data is completely secure and that you are in total control over it.

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