7 digital hygiene rules you'll thank yourself for

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Follow them to keep yourself and your data safe.

1. Set strong passwords and change them regularly

The longer and more complex the password, the harder it will be to crack. The best option is a large combination of random letters, numbers and symbols. Under no circumstances use the names of children and relatives, birthdays and other personal data that are easy to find on social networks.

But no matter how complex your password is, remember to change it at least once every six months. And don't be tempted to reuse any of the old ones. The longer one password is used, the higher the likelihood that it will fall into the hands of hackers or be compromised. Also, don't use the same combination on different sites. Then, if an account on some forum is hacked, attackers will not be able to get into your account in online banks.

To avoid confusion with a large number of combinations, use a password manager like LastPass or 1Password. They store all your codes and automatically enter them on sites, and you only need to remember one master password.

2. Back up your data

Ransomware viruses are spreading more and more every day. They lock the device and threaten to delete all data from it if you don't pay the ransom. Such viruses can get on your computer or smartphone if you click on a link in a phishing email or click on a fake banner ad.

Be especially careful when surfing the Internet and be sure to back up important files.

This can be automated. There are special paid services like Carbonite that regularly copy and save your data. Mac and Windows also have the ability to create backups to external media. On macOS, this feature is called Time Machine.

In Windows 10, a similar tool is found in the Update & Security options, and in Windows 7, in System and Maintenance. Make sure that after copying the data, you disconnected the external media, then in case of infection, the files on it will definitely remain intact.

3. Don't share too personal information on social media

Firstly, it is a gold mine for various fraudsters - primarily for identity thieves. They collect personal data from users in order to access their finances. Secondly, data leaks often occur, so that even information that is invisible to other users is at risk.

Therefore, minimize the amount of data that you share on different media platforms as much as possible.

Do not publish your date of birth in the public domain, do not indicate your address, location and contacts. Turn off geotagging on photos. While the data itself may seem harmless, it can help criminals learn a lot about you.

4. Regularly check the history of financial transactions

Fraudsters use stolen information to quickly withdraw money from your account or take a loan on your behalf. Therefore, be sure to look at statements on cards, especially credit ones. And once a year, ask for your credit history to check if other people's loans have been opened in your name.

If possible, set up two-factor authentication in your banking application. Then, when entering, you will need to enter not only a password, but also a code from SMS or push notifications. This method is safer than normal application activation.

5. Periodically unsubscribe from unnecessary

People now often change one service for another, as a result, they accumulate a lot of unnecessary mailings and subscriptions. While the former simply clutter up the mailbox, the latter can cost money. Think about what you have recently stopped using, and check if you have set up automatic debiting of funds.

Do not save your bank card details on websites and applications. Especially where there is a trial period, after which the use will become paid. There is always a chance that you will abandon the service in a couple of days, and the money will continue to be debited automatically.

6. Keep track of what digital fingerprint you leave

Browsers and search engines store user data: they record your location, requests, settings. Cellular operators do this too: they keep a list of dialed numbers and text messages. Apple and Google collect information about how you use their devices: what applications you install, what you are looking for.

And all this is completely legal, because you gave your consent to the processing of personal data and clicked on the appropriate button.

You cannot completely shield yourself from this, but you can limit the amount of data collected about you. Review your device settings. Turn off access to your location for those apps that don't really need it. Opt out of personalized ads (for Google, for Apple). Turn off location history in Google Maps to prevent information being sent to the company.

7. Update your software regularly

The updated versions fix bugs that hackers could use for their own purposes. Therefore, the older your version of the operating system, program or browser, the more vulnerable you are. Turn on auto-update so you don't forget about updates. Remove programs and applications that you stopped using or that are no longer supported by the developers.

Don't forget about the router and all kinds of smart devices: they also need regular updates. Check the information on the manufacturer's website and follow the instructions.