Information security: How to keep your family safe in the Digital Age - Now and into the Future...

How to Keep Your Information Safe in the Digital Age

In today's world, where we are increasingly relying on technology to store and manage our personal information, it's more important than ever to protect ourselves from online threats. From identity theft to cyber attacks, there are numerous dangers that can compromise our personal information, leading to serious consequences. In this post, we will explore some practical steps that you can take to keep your information safe in the digital age.

Use a Good Password Manager and Strong Passwords

One of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your information is by using a password manager and passphrases (strong passwords where passphrases are not supported). Strong passwords usually means using a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols that are difficult for others to guess and is what a fair amount of systems still depend on. However, passphrases should be used whenever supported. A passphrase can be the line of a song, a quote from your favorite book, etc. The idea of the passphrase is the strength is in the length. Today's technology with its increased processing power can crack a 10 character strong password faster than it ever could a section of your favorite nuresery rhyme. The strength of mixed case letters, special characters, and numbers is dated. Avoid using easily guessable information, such as your name or birthdate, in your passwords, and consider using a password manager to help you create and store strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts. A good password manager will also monitor activity on the Dark Web to determine if your password or email address used to login to your websites has been compromised. It can also check the "hygiene" of your passwords and let you know if your reusing them across too many websites or not changing them frequently enough. Last but not least, and probably should be at the top of this is turn on multifactor authentication (MFA) wherever it is supported. The benefits of MFA is that if your credentials (username/email address and password) are ever compromised it offers another layer of protection because the account will be frozen to acces unless the person has the code that you and only you should have received each time you login - Never share that code with anyone and if the site gives you the option of Text or an Authenticator App, choose the Authenticator app.

Update Your Software Regularly

Another important step in keeping your information safe is to regularly update your software. This includes your operating system, web browsers, and any other software that you use on a regular basis on your phone, laptop, computer, and car. Software updates often contain important security patches that help to protect you against online threats, so make sure to keep your software up to date at all times.

Be Careful What You Click On

Phishing scams and malicious emails are common ways that cyber criminals attempt to steal personal information. To avoid falling victim to these types of attacks, be cautious of any suspicious emails, especially those that ask you to provide personal information or download attachments. Always verify the sender of an email before clicking on any links or downloading any attachments, and never enter personal information into a website that you do not trust.

Encrypt Your Data

Encrypting your data is another important step in protecting your information. Encryption is a way of scrambling your data so that it cannot be easily read by others. This is especially important if you are storing sensitive information, such as financial data, medical, student, or personal records, on your computer or other devices. You can use encryption software or enable encryption options that are built into your operating system to encrypt your data.

Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

A virtual private network (VPN) is a tool that helps to protect your online privacy by encrypting your internet traffic. Most Internet providers share your information for Ad revenue. A tool like a VPN can help to keep your personal information safe not only when using public Wi-Fi networks, but at home as well. A VPN can also protect your online activity from being monitored by others. When choosing a VPN, look for one that has a strong reputation and offers robust security features, such as strong encryption and a no-logs policy.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, protecting your personal information is essential in the digital age. By using strong passwords, updating your software, being cautious of suspicious emails, encrypting your data, and using virtual private networks, you can help to keep your information safe and secure. By following these simple steps, you can help to reduce your risk of falling victim to online threats and protect your personal information for years to come.