The padlock icon next to the browser's URL bar indicates that data sent to the website is encrypted. It is also reflected in its address starting with "HTTPS" and makes an excellent proxy for the website security policy. Although many institutions such as banks suggest performing additional checks, the lack of the padlock icon can often be enough to determine the website is suspicious. Particularly when used for payment collection.
Your social media accounts are a major hub for storing an incredible amount of personal information, including your date of birth, location, employment information, and identifiable details. To prevent cybercriminals from taking advantage of your publicly displayed information, it is essential that your social media privacy settings are set to private and include two-factor authentication. While it may be tempting to keep your social media profiles open to the public, remember that such will put you more at risk for identity theft, personalized phishing campaigns, and other fraudulent activity.
One tip for protecting PII online is to use two-factor authentication whenever possible. This security measure requires users to input a special code (usually sent as a text message) in addition to their username and password when logging in. This makes it much more difficult for someone to hack into an account.
One tip for protecting PII online is to use strong passwords and to change them frequently. By doing this, you make it more difficult for someone to gain access to your personal information.
The size of a company varies in their approach towards cybersecurity, which is mainly attributed to the number of resources that a company can use to help mitigate risk. Depending on the industry, companies are expected to have certain precautions and insurances required of them. Even startups are expected to have plans and procedures in place to protect data and information. Based on the industry and the nature of the business, that company will need to address cybersecurity very quickly, and what that entails precisely is very dependent on the organization and what they need to protect.
The “Privacy Settings” tab is probably the most neglected one in the many apps and platforms you use. Take a look today, and you will know why you should have clicked on the tab sooner. The privacy settings of every application are set to a default list of choices that don’t really offer you the best in security. Spend some time choosing the options that tighten security loopholes to keep your personal information under wraps.
Protect your SSN (and other basic information) by using it as infrequently as possible. Many don't realize how rarely you actually have to use your Social Security Number. For example, while many businesses or medical clinics ask you for it, most folks don't realize that you have the choice to decline to provide it. While they can (sometimes) refuse the service it's definitely worth your privacy not to provide it only cause you were asked for it. In general, it's wise to remember where SSN is actually mandatory (vs. optional). These typically include: - Employment - Health insurance - Real estate transactions - Financial matters (such as applying for accounts, credit cards, car loans, etc.) So it pays to stay aware when the SSN is truly needed, as many times organizations simply use it for easier track keeping but it's your priority not to share it when not necessary.
The one tip I have for protecting personally identifiable information is to use a VPN. They're becoming increasingly popular for individuals and companies to protect their information online. We require encryption of harddrives on employee laptops and encourage the same security practices of contractors, but that isn't always enough. There is a widening understanding gap of online information dangers as technology speeds ahead of regular employee awareness. When implementing new security measures, the greatest difficulty is catching everyone up to speed. VPNs are simple to use and virtually unnoticeable during regular PC usage, allowing us to protect PII without complex tasks and software that limit access for employees.
The internet has become a part of our daily lives, but this does not mean it is a safe environment for us. And although we share just about everything out there, monitoring the specific personal information we put on the world wide web is crucial. From random mentions of our social security and banking details to the places we visit and our shopping patterns, there are several ways in which we expose our info online. A little vigilance goes a long way in keeping our information safe.
Encryption is a super helpful way to protect your private information and sensitive data. We unknowingly release a ton of valuable data through our browser so encryption works to protect us even when we don’t realize it. Encryption is also pretty user-friendly, so it's an easy way to get protect your information. Encryption basically works by preventing those who steal data from being able to read the files. You just get an encryption key that turns your information into unreadable data using encryption algorithms. So only the key will allow you to unscramble and reaccess it.
You’ll be surprised when you find out how much of your old data and media is still doing the rounds of the internet. These may include email IDs you do not use anymore, social media accounts you haven’t accessed for years now, and even storage apps that you never cared to sort or delete. These files and folders hold a lot of your personal information. So, take some time to review these old apps and platforms and get going on the mission to delete and destroy them.
CMO at The Ridge Wallet
Answered 4 years ago
Protecting your personally identifiable information is something that can be achieved, not through just one action, but rather a coordinated effort from multiple actions. Good cyber security hygiene includes things such as using two-factor authentication, having any and all security updates downloaded, and choosing and regularly changing strong passwords. These are the more basic steps, but they help create the frontline of defense when it comes to protecting your PII. It's likely that your password strategy will need an overhaul. Suggested "strong passwords" should be used when offered, accounts containing sensitive information should have never-before-used passwords, and you should consider keeping all of your passwords in a password manager. This way the only password you'll have to remember is the code to your password manager. Two-factor authentication should become routine for any of your accounts, as this is a simple and quick way to guarantee that no one else has access.
Stop sharing your birthday on social media. While it might mean you won’t get as many birthday wishes on your Facebook page, you’ll be significantly more secure. Birthdays are essentially one number of the passcode to break into your PII–don’t give it away so freely.
Especially while travelling, using public Wi-Fi can seem like a convenient way to complete your daily remote work from anywhere, but you could be making yourself a prime target for cybercriminals. Instead of using public, free Wi-Fi networks that are unsecure, utilize a virtual private network (VPN) that encrypts your website traffic with the serve and helps keep your browsing session private. In either instance, it is also important to log off on your chosen device to ensure your session is not accessible to anyone else.
Use a VPN to protect your personal information from phishing attacks. VPN’s encrypt your data traffic and reduce your risk when using public wi-fi sources. A VPN will also protect you when downloading programs or media off the internet and make your online activity less trackable overall. If you want added security from targeted ads, phishers, hackers, or anyone else trying to use your personal information against you, subscribe to a VPN service for peace of mind for your business, personal or professional.
One tip I recommend for protecting PII online is to use a secure password storing app like LastPass. Password requirements differ from site to site, and it can be difficult to remember passwords for every login. Many folks use some variation of an easy-to-remember personal phrase, which can leave users more vulnerable to hacking. LastPass's auto-fill ability makes it easier for users to vary passwords. Plus, users can use the app to share passwords for certain accounts without revealing the password to the other person, which gives account holders more control over who has access to their online profiles.