We live in the future. The dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell doesn’t seem so far fetched anymore. The monitoring techniques are a bit outdated if we compare it to what we have today. The thought police could identify anyone as criminal with just a simple look at their search history.
On the bright side, the internet is not governed by a dictator named Big Brother, and data stealing is punishable by law.
Even so, that isn’t enough to stop some malicious people from taking advantage of unsuspecting individuals. In today’s day and age, almost all of our personal information is fed into our handheld devices.
This makes it so much easier to narrow down a target when someone has foul intentions. It’s very important to have your data protected as you move around and do your business.
We know how important it is to feel safe physically, but we should also ensure our safety online and on the go, too. Therefore, we have compiled a list of ways through which you can keep your devices secure:
Lock Your Devices
This is the simplest one of all, yet also ignored by many. According to a research, only 53% of US citizens lock their phones.
By not having a pin or a password protecting your data you are making it easy for others to steal your information like emails, pictures, and banking details. Most phones have either pattern, pin or password protection to keep your data safe in case the device is stolen.
Further, many phones today have a fingerprint scanner for increased security, and you should definitely take advantage of this feature if your device is equipped.
Back-Up Your Data
Phones are usually small, and not a lot of weight. It’s easy not to notice it fall from your bag or accidentally misplacing it.
Losing your phone can be devastating since all your contacts are in there along with your other personal data. These days, many phones have services like iCloud, OneDrive and google drive, that can allow you upload your data to the cloud, without having it logged into on all your devices. This way, a simple log out from another device can save your data from being accessed.
Wireless Connections
It’s very easy for hackers to access your data through a public internet connection. They can access your data through that route and steal personal information. Be sure to pay attention before connecting to public wireless network.
Sometimes they may ask for your email and password, so take caution before handing those over.
Another concern is that of Bluetooth connections, as hackers (if within range) can access our data, listen to conversations and even browse your internet history. To avoid such circumstances, keep your Bluetooth non-discoverable when you’re not pairing a new device.
Install Software
Install security software on your mobile phones and other devices. It’s one of the best ways to protect your phone from malware and spyware software.
These software versions have GPS functions that can allow you to trace your phone in case it gets stolen or lost. There are software and websites that can allow you to have access to your phone remotely. So, even if you can’t find your phone inside your house, you can make it buzz with your other devices so that you can locate it.
Mobile phones have brought the entire world down into our palm. We use it for communication, entertainment, online transactions and even in our businesses. At the same time, we are entering our details into these devices as well.
Like our names, ids, birthdays, passwords and even fingerprints, that can be easily used against us.
Therefore, it’s extremely important to take precautionary steps to avoid any potential data theft.
