How to Protect Your Information Online During COVID-19
The COVID-19 outbreak has led to increased reliance on the internet. As the virus spreads like bush fire to every part of the world, many people are forced to work from home in an effort to maintain social distancing. This means that a lot of information is being processed online, a factor that raises the question of data security. Ideally, cybercriminals are known to be opportunistic, and coronavirus crisis fits their agenda. Everyone using the internet is exposed to the risk of cyber-attacks, so it is essential to learn how to protect information online. Check out these tips.
Be Careful on What Click on
The overwhelming news making rounds about the coronavirus pandemic has created a new threat, known as phishing attacks. Primarily, phishing attacks tend to exploit public fear and uncertainty, which makes the COID-19 epidemic a perfect candidate. Emails promising important information on the coronavirus may contain malware in attachments and links. In most cases, phishing attackers often seek access to devices providing confidential information that they manipulate to steal financial data. To avoid such situations, make sure you do not open attachments or click on links coming from sources that you are not familiar with or people you do not know. Similarly, avoid messages that look suspicious or unauthentic.
Get Rid of Inactive Accounts
Sometimes people create several online accounts, some of which become dormant over time. Getting rid of accounts that are no longer in use can help minimize data exposure – the less the data you have on the internet, the less the risk of data theft. So to increase your security odds, it can be a good idea to adopt appropriate security measures. Part of your cleaning plan should include generating unique, hard-to-guess passwords and installing a password manager with the ability to encrypt all your passwords.
Update Your Devices and Apps
Whether it is your computer, smartphone, or any other device that connects you to the internet, it should be updated. While most browsers update automatically, some apps, such as those you use to view photos, videos, and read documents, may require extra attention. Mostly, old versioned apps have a high likelihood of bugs that can make your device vulnerable to cyber-attacks. To get rid of these bugs, you can use reliable software or download a file from trusted sources.
Secure Your Video Chat Connections
Video conferencing is of the tech innovations that have received massive recognition during the pandemic period. As people live in lockdown and quarantines to help contain the virus, there is an increased need to connect with family, colleagues, and friends. This means that people need applications that enable them to make group calls, thus making video conferencing an excellent choice for many. However, several questions have been raised regarding their safety and privacy. You can consider using other safer alternatives such as Wire and WhatsApp services with end-to-end encryptions to help promote security. You can also use other trusted sources that do not need you to download software.
Don’t share Passwords Online
Passwords are essential to help protect your personal or company information. That is why it is important not to share passwords online. If your colleague at work asks for log-ins if you must share them ensure you do it via the phone rather than sending them by email or text.
Learn How to Manage Infodemic
While the internet is an excellent source of valuable information, it can also be misinforming. As coronavirus spreads throughout the world, there is plenty of misinformation circulating online about the whole situation. Several misleading theories and claims surround the source, spread, and cure of the virus. That is why it is crucial to learn how to manage such information. Rumors can cause fear and anxiety during health crises, so before consuming any information about the pandemic, ensure you check its source and try verifying the content with other authentic sources.