What is privacy?
Privacy is when you don’t share your address and other details with a complete stranger. Privacy is when you have certain boundaries even with the people you know. This is what privacy is. But what about privacy online? Does it mean to protect your Facebook account by changing the settings from public to private? Not quite. While that does provide some level of protection against strangers, you are still vulnerable. It’s not enough to protect your privacy. Your personal information is still at risk.
Why is it important?
Imagine this: One day, you get a notification on your phone and you check to see it’s a message from your bank. It says you have successfully spent $500 while shopping online. Now, you know you didn’t spend any money on shopping. So, why did you get this message? You check your bank balance and it’s true. You’re missing $500! How did this happen? You haven’t given anyone your bank account information so, what happened? This is how your personal information is compromised and your privacy is violated.
It is not just your name, your birthday, etc. but crucial information like credit card numbers, bank statements, and more. All of this information is stolen right under your nose and you don’t even know it. It could be a random website that you were browsing through trying to look for something to buy and as soon as you enter your details to make that purchase, that’s when it happens. The worst part is there is no telltale sign that something has happened. So, you’ll never know when it happened exactly but there is a way to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here’s how you can do that.
How to stay safe?
Your identity is extremely important. This is why it is checked every time you are traveling or making a big purchase. Nothing can proceed unless and until your identity has been confirmed. So, if your identity is compromised, it causes a huge problem. How can you avoid that from happening? Here are some tips:
- Use virus protection software for your laptop and computer. This will warn you and protect your information whenever it senses a threat. Some ISPs offer anti-virus protection in their packages so that you won’t have to pay for it separately. You can find the best TV and Internet bundles that come with anti-virus protection as well on our website.
- Strengthen your passwords for all accounts (emails, social media, website accounts, etc.) by making them unique and different from each other. This way, in the worst-case scenario, if one of your accounts is compromised, all your other accounts will still be safe. You can even use 2-factor authentication.
- Email scams and phishing scams are pretty common and oftentimes, people fall for these the most. They usually impersonate as some big company inviting you to apply for a job or a store offering you big discounts. To avail of the offer, you will have to send your details and then, you get your reward. In the end, the reward is nothing but your empty bank account. So, always be sure to never entertain such emails and delete them from your inbox.
- Don’t add your card details to random sites. You should only use it for authenticated and secure sites.
- Check your apps’ privacy settings. Usually, the details are stated in the terms and conditions of the app, but nobody reads that. So, be sure to check the settings and see how much data is being shared. You can turn off your location to further secure yourself.
- Back up all your data. Hackers can hack into your data and ask for a ransom to give it back to you. To avoid falling for this scheme, you should back up your data.
- Delete apps you no longer use. There is no use for any app to be installed if it is no longer in use. Chances are that the app is no longer being updated and it is just a matter of time before a virus finds its way into your phone.
- Bluetooth can prove to be very dangerous as it opens doors to threats. If you are not using your Bluetooth, it is better to just turn it off.
Conclusion
There are many more ways that you can use to protect yourself. These are the least and most easily ones that you can manage. A big part of security is also played by your internet service provider as they can offer you network security, firewall, and anti-virus protection. So, it is advised that you should always look for a reliable and secure internet service provider. To find one in your area, go on to BuyTVInternetPhone and add in your zip code! Within seconds, you will be able to see multiple plans and packages from providers in your area!