Showing posts with label protect personal information. Show all posts
Showing posts with label protect personal information. Show all posts

Monday, January 27, 2020

Happy Data Privacy Day!

January 27th is Data Privacy Day! 

The internet has opened so many doors for us and truly is a part of our day to day lives. We don't often take the time to think about the fact that we put a lot of our personal information out there. On Data Privacy Day we are reminded that we need to be vigilant in taking care of our precious personal data and making sure it is protected. 

Some Simple Tips for Protecting Your Data:


1. Check your privacy settings. Most of your social and eCommerce accounts will have a place where you can view and change your privacy settings. Every couple weeks you should review your privacy settings and make sure that it is set to what you want. You should consider the personal data that you are willing to make public (ie: email, phone number, birthday, location). 

2. Don't use a public service to store any private data. Google Docs is a great tool and very helpful for students and businesses alike that need a central place to store their work. However, you should not store personal information such as passwords or other sensitive data on a public service. 

3. Use private browsing. Using a private browsing window like a Incognito window, is very helpful for deterring internet tracking. Normally when you open a browser, it stores the websites you visit, the items you search for, or anything you might have bought. This information can be given to marketers. When you use a private browsing setting, this information is not stored. 

4. Use strong passwords. When you create a password is should not have any personal info like your name or birthday. It is also strongly advised that you create a long password, 12 characters (letters, numbers, and symbols) long. Additionally creating unique passwords for each of your services is strongly advised. While it may seem convenient to have the same password for everything, it puts you at a larger risk and makes it easier for potential malicious users to access your accounts. 

5. Use passwords and passcodes for access to your electronic devices.  Make sure you are protecting the device or devices you have that store all your precious information! A simple passcode or password being enabled on a device can go a long way in protecting your data. 

6. Use secure WiFi. A secure WiFi connection is very important. Public WiFis do not always have data encryption and this means that anyone that has access to the WiFi can track your browsing information. Try and keep login and monetary transactions to a minimum on public WiFi to avoid your passwords and credit card data getting into the wrong hands. 

Please continue checking our blog for more helpful tips and posts!

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

TOP TIPS FOR SAFE ONLINE HOLIDAY SHOPPING

Before you start your holiday shopping, remember to STOP. THINK. CONNECT.: Make sure security measures are in place, understand the consequences of your actions and behaviors and enjoy the benefits of the Internet.

  • Keep a Clean Machine: All the devices you use for shopping - including smartphones and tablets - should have up-to-date software including security software, operating systems, programs and apps.
  • When in Doubt, Throw it Out: Links in email, tweets, posts, and online advertising are often the way cybercriminals compromise your computer. If it looks suspicious, even if you know the source, it’s best to delete or if appropriate, mark as junk email.
  • Think Before you Act: Be wary of   communications that offer amazing deals that sound too good to be true, implore you to act immediately - including those about a problem with an order or payment or ask you to view the website via a provided link.                                    
  • Get Savvy about Wi-Fi Hotspots:  Don’t share personal or financial information over an unsecured network (a connection that doesn’t require a password for access). Using the direct web access on your phone (via a 3G/4G connection) is safer than an unsecured wireless network when on your mobile device.
  • Make Sure the Site is Legitimate: This includes a closed padlock on your web browser’s address bar or a URL address that begins with https. This indicates that the purchase is encrypted or secured. For new sites, check online reviews.
  • Protect your Personal Information: Be alert to the kinds of information being collected to complete the transaction. Make sure the information requested is only that needed to complete the transaction. Only fill out required fields on checkout forms. Check the website's privacy policy. Make sure you understand how your information will be stored and used.
  • Use Safe Payment Options: Credit cards are generally the safest option because they allow buyers to seek a credit from the issuer if the product isn’t delivered or isn’t what was ordered. Credit cards may have a limit on the monetary amount you will be responsible for paying. Never send cash through the mail or use a money-wiring service.
  • Keep a Paper Trail: Save records of your online transactions, including the product description, price, online receipt, terms of the sale, and copies of email exchanges with the seller. Read your credit card statements as soon as you get them to make sure there aren’t any unauthorized charges. If there is a discrepancy, call your bank and report it immediately.

Logos