Safer Internet Day: how to protect your data

In light of the on-going pandemic and the amount of us now working remotely and using online systems to communicate and complete tasks, it has never been more important to mark Safer Internet Day and make sure our network security is up to scratch at every level (at the very least). With the continuation of the fitting theme: “Together for a better internet” we take a look at some of the ways you can keep yourself and others safe online and protect that all-important data.

Create Complex Passwords

Although this one may seem obvious, studies show that 23.2 million accounts were hacked because they were using the classic, easy-to-crack password “123456789”. We hope you’re not the owner of one of those accounts! Creating strong, unique passwords for all your critical accounts is the best way to keep your personal and financial information safe.

When it comes to your business you should also go a step further with Two-Factor Authentication or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) when logging into accounts. Where available, we recommend that you always utilise 2FA or MFA for an additional layer of security.

Share Information Cautiously

These days people share everything under the sun on their social media accounts without a second thought. With a big push on Instagram and Facebook stories lately and the introduction of Reels, you probably know what your friends are up to and even the meals they had for dinner without even having to ask. However, it is important to be mindful as the information you share could leave you or your loved ones open to hackers or impersonators.

There are always people on the lookout for clues to passwords and this also applies for company social media accounts. As important as it is to show your company’s culture and team photos, be diligent to not share any sensitive information in and around your workspaces.

Practice Safe Surfing & Shopping

More of us than ever are now shopping online as well as visiting websites for online banking and other sensitive transactions. It’s crucial to always make sure that the site’s address starts with “https” instead of just “http” and has a padlock icon in the URL field. This lets us know that the website is secure and uses encryption to scramble your data so it cannot be intercepted by others.

Use a Firewall

Firewalls provide us with protection while we are browsing the internet against outside cyber attackers by shielding computers or networks from malicious or unnecessary network traffic. They can also help to prevent malicious software from accessing a computer or network via the internet. In other words, without a Firewall in place, you are leaving your computer open to threats and increase the risk of an attack on your servers.

Boost Network Security

There are layers to network security when it comes to both your personal and your business devices. Attacks can happen at any level and a data breach can have a range of serious consequences for any business so your network security hardware, software and best practices must be designed to address each area.