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How You Can Protect Your Data When Using the Internet

In case you find out that a finance website you are using has its security compromised, the best you can do is either change passwords, replace your credit card or completely close off that account. This situation leaves your hands tied since there isn’t anything you can do to fix it. It becomes that much harder to shield yourself from possible breaches in your security. However, that is not the only reason to remain proactive in matters concerning your internet security.

For instance, ransomware attacks might leave your device unusable unless you decide to pay off the attacker. Another case might involve a destructive trojan that obtains all your login details. But there is no reason to worry, with the different ways that you can shield yourself from such attacks. Some of the measures listed in this article are more than just standard actions. Below are a few things you could do to ensure that your data stays intact whenever you are using the internet.

Use a reliable VPN

It is generally recommended that you use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) whenever you are using an unsecured or public network. You could be a regular at your favorite coffee shop that has free Wi-fi for its customers. If you decide to use it, you stand a high risk of having your privacy breached. There isn’t any guarantee that the network is safe for you.

Someone might access the data channels that connect your device to the network and obtain sensitive information about you from your device. A VPN encrypts all your data such that it becomes difficult to access it. It also reroutes your internet traffic to a random server from the VPN service provider. This way, it is impossible for anyone on the network to monitor your activity even if they own the network. A significant advantage of VPNs is that they can shield your device IP address.

It does this by assigning your computer or laptop to a residential IP address. This way, anyone trying to pinpoint your actual location might not be able to do so without access to your real IP address. This VPN testing site advocates using a VPN whenever you connect to any unverified network to keep all data safe.

Set Different Passwords for Every Account

The main reason behind so many hacking incidents is the fact that users have the same login passwords and usernames for all their accounts. This makes it very easy for hackers because all they have to do is try the credential across all your platforms. In the first six months of 2020, there were about 540 cases of security compromise in the United States alone. This was mostly as a result of poor password practices. For instance, if a hacker has the password to your email, they could go on to try the same password on your banking platform.

To shield yourself from such a situation, make a point of having unique and different passwords for each of your online accounts. Remembering all the passwords can prove to be a daunting task, and therefore, it would serve you well to use a password manager. With this service, all you have to do is remember the password you used to set up the password manager and the rest is done for you. The application will enter all your passwords automatically whenever you feel the need to do so.

Make Use of Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication might be a bit of a hurdle, but it ultimately improves the security of your online accounts. It requires you to go through an additional authentication process after you enter a username and password.

Usually, it could be through your phone messaging, calls or email address. It could also involve a facial recognition step or a fingerprint requirement for you to log in to an account. This way, anyone trying to hack your data cannot do so even if they have your password. This has become a norm in certain sectors such as banking and insurance who take up 43.76 per cent of the market worldwide.

Image Credits – Security Magazine | Threat Post

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