All of us are addicted to the internet in one way or another. Some of us like browsing through social media while some take pleasure in streaming movies and TV shows online. While the internet seems like a wonderful place, it can turn out to be a nightmare if you aren’t careful enough. 

The internet serves as a central hub for data, there’s data coming into your devices and there’s data going out. However, you need to be mindful of the fact that it is dangerous for you if your data falls into the wrong hands. 

This is why it’s important for you to take steps to keep your personal information from being accessed by unwanted parties. Below, I have shared some of the best ways of data protection are, and they are pretty easy to follow: 

Start With Privacy Settings on Social Media

Starting off with where your data is the most vulnerable: social media. There are people out there with malicious intent who “mine data” for identity theft. 

Identity thefts are typically done through phishing attempts, something that you can fall prey to while using social media. To add the first layer of protection to your browsing activities, you must have an internet connection that comes with integrated protection against malicious links. I recommend looking into Xfinity Internet deals since it comes with such a security protocol. 

Additionally, most social media platforms give you the option to tailor your privacy settings according to your own needs. Snapchat, for example, allows you to control who can contact you. Similarly, you can also look at all the data they may have collected from you, giving you more information about your data situation. 

Another example is Instagram where you can also manage your privacy settings. You can control who looks at your posts and stories or who can leave a comment on your posts. 

Encrypt Your Data

The best way to protect your data is to encode it. The common term for encoding data is “encryption”. To explain it in layman’s terms, once you encrypt your data, you transform it from a readable format to an unreadable format. 

If anyone tries to infiltrate your data, they will not be able to bypass the encryption protocols. This is possible, thanks to encryption keys that make it impossible for someone else to read the data. The best part is, that the person that encrypted the data in the first place is the only one that can decode it back to a readable form. 

A common example of encryption is WhatsApp, which claims that all your chats are end-to-end encrypted, meaning nobody can look into your chats, not even WhatsApp itself. 

Consider Using a VPN

A VPN is something you must have heard of before. It is short for Virtual Private Network. You would be surprised to know that even when you are using your internet at home, you still aren’t safe. You never know who would be mining for your data to sell it online. 

One of the most reliable ways to save yourself from such a situation is to use a VPN, no matter which internet connection you are connected to. A VPN turns any public network into a private network, keeping you anonymous as you use the internet. This also encrypts your data automatically, so that no one can tap into your data online. 

Use Two-Factor Authentication

Protecting your data is just like an onion, with a lot of layers to it. You can control who can see your data, encrypt your data, and use a VPN. However, if you want to add an extra layer of protection for your data, you can use two-factor authentication.

The first factor consists of you putting in your username and your password. Now a password is something that someone can guess if it is too easy. 

However, it is the second factor that helps you keep your devices and online accounts secure. It includes either a text message or an email link that further allows you to log in to your account. 

If someone else tries logging in, you may always decline the attempt through two-factor authentication. A great example of this is Gmail, whenever someone tries to log in, you get a notification on your phone and you can confirm whether it was you or not. 

Key Takeaways

Protecting your data isn’t as hard as you would think it is. You’ve seen that it is a fairly simple process, all it requires is constant vigilance and you are good to go. Make sure you check all the boxes in this list so that all your accounts and devices are protected from potential attacks and that no one has access to your data!