There’s no question that data breaches are the hot topic of conversation, whether it’s around the water cooler at work, waiting for your kids at the school gate, or at dinner. The thought of a data breach happening to you is a scary one. It could mean your credit card information gets stolen, your social media profiles are taken over, or even someone steals your identity. But what should you do in order to protect yourself and your family?
Worry not! We have some simple steps to follow to help you protect your data today!
Password Protection
One of the best things you can do to protect yourself online is to make sure that each of your online accounts has a unique, extremely complex password or passphrase. We understand that putting this into practice might be difficult, but it will be well worth it.
If you use the same password for all of your accounts, you run the risk of having your login information stolen in the event of a data breach. Because if your personal information is stolen, a hacker could potentially access your bank accounts, credit card accounts, and online stores where your credit card is saved in a matter of seconds. You can now see why it makes sense.
Why not use a password manager if it all feels a little overwhelming? It’s genius how password managers can generate and remember passwords that no person could possibly think of!
Multi-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) significantly complicates a hacker’s life. To put it simply, access to an account or app requires the user to supply two or more verification factors. This could be a text message, email, or even a code produced by an app for authentication. In other words, even if a hacker gets their hands on your username and password, they cannot access the final component.
Time for a Cyber-Bath!
Limiting your online exposure will also lower your risk of being impacted by a data breach. So, spend some time deleting accounts that you no longer use. It’s time to close any accounts you may have had on eBay in the past if you ran a side business there. All of your old PayPal and eBay accounts, along with any other accounts or subscriptions you no longer use, should be closed.
If there was ever a time to be serious about managing your online data, it is now. It is simply insufficient to assume that you won’t be a victim of a data breach and that “things like that don’t happen to you.” Be proactive by organizing your passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and maintaining good online safety.
Data breaches are no joke. Make sure you protect yourself and your family today by using the steps listed above! By taking advantage of the features and services offered by KNeT, you can ensure your family’s and your own data are protected. Contact us now!
