Protect Your Personal Information
October 20th, 2020
Your personal health information, financial account information, login information, and social security numbers are worth a lot of money to criminals. In the world of online transactions we can’t just stop connecting, but we can do so in a smart and secure manner. Just because we can’t see a criminal stealing our information does not mean that information is safe.
Secure your personal information at home so it stays your information by doing these things:
Protect it on your device.
Employ a disk encryption solution on your mobile device (phones, tablets) and your desktop or laptop. Encryption protects your data from falling into the wrong hands in the event your device is lost or stolen. Once you deploy the disk encryption there is nothing else you need to do. The solutions listed below come with your device:
- Apple laptops and iMacs — FileVault
- Microsoft Windows laptops and desktops— BitLocker
- Microsoft Windows Surface — Settings, Update & Security, Device Encryption
- Android mobile devices — check Settings, Security Options, Encryption for the status
- Apple iPhone — check Settings, Touch ID & Passcode, Scroll to the bottom and in small letters should be “Data protection is enabled.”
Use a Password Manager, a secure, encrypted digital safe where you save your passwords, and you can also use it for that precious information mentioned earlier. LastPass is the most commonly used solution.
Protect it in transmission.
Use a virtual private network (VPN) solution on your mobile devices (phones, tablets) and your desktop or laptop when communicating over the internet, especially when communicating or using applications for healthcare services, banking, or credit information. A VPN is like a secure tunnel that your communication is processed through from your device to the internet location.
- NordVPN is a common secure VPN solution
- McAfee and Norton also have a VPN solution that you can utilize on all your devices, even phones and tablets and typically comes with your anti-virus solution.
NEVER give someone your password. Legitimate organizations will never ask you for your login name and password. If you are asked this in an email, delete it. If you are asked over the phone, hang up. (No need to be nice!)
Monitor it.
Get an identity theft solution that will not only monitor activity with your personal information, use a solution that also helps you if your identity is stolen.
Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.