Protecting your privacy and data is vital
There are always risks out there in the world. In most cases, we are able to easily identify these risks and more or less avoid them or reduce their likelihood subconsciously. We are natural risk-assessors, but only when we understand what is at stake and how it can harm us. What this means for our online use is that many people – and businesses – are at risk simply because they don’t know what’s out there and how it can affect them.
What Are The Dangers of Using the Internet
The internet feels like a safe place to be. You are in your home or another familiar environment, and physically there is nothing the internet can do to harm you. The issue is that our data has become so ingrained into our identities that being hacked can lead to disastrous results:
The Danger of Data Being Stolen
If your data is stolen, you might experience an influx in spam attacks. Perhaps there are a few phone calls from strange numbers in countries you don’t know anyone. They ring and hang up before you have a chance to answer because their goal is to try to get you to call back and rack up long distance charges that would go them. Or perhaps your email is stolen, and a carefully crafted phishing attack (using your personal data against you) entices you to download malware.
The Danger of Data Being Held Ransom
If your data is held at ransom, as a company you are forced to pay the hacker money or else risk your entire company being deleted in an instant. In many cases, once you cannot pay any more or refuse to the hacker should let your data go, but there have been cases where companies have had so much of their data deleted, they were forced to shut down.
The Danger of Money Being Stolen
There are two main ways that money can be stolen from you through an online hack. One, that the personal information that is stolen is enough to access your bank account. Two, your credit card details are stolen.
Why You Should Be Aware
In many situations, the best way to avoid these attacks is to be aware they exist and know what to look out for. To start your journey into the risks and how to mitigate them you will want to read up on the guides available on McAfee. You will want to get into the habit of checking the security credentials of the companies you use, staying on top of hacking news, and taking a few key steps to reducing the impact of a hack.
How You Can Protect Yourself
Algorithms and software alone are not enough to protect you, which is why you will want to:
- Use unique, complicated passwords for important accounts
- Delete old accounts
- Monitor for phishing scams and malware
- Back up important information offline
- Keep all software up to date
- Install anti-virus software
- Use only the best VPN services when browsing the internet in a public location
There is no guarantee that you will never face an attack, however, but knowing what to look out for and how to minimize the spread of the infection can help you get back on track.
