Information security is a top priority here at Cultivate Digital, and we take steps to protect your data. However, there are some things you can do to protect yourself and make sure that your information remains confidential.
Cloud backups – Always backup your photos and documents to a trusted cloud service.
Cloud backup services, like Google Drive and Dropbox, are a great way to protect data. These services allow you to store your files online and access them from anywhere. You can also configure these services so that they automatically back up your important files on a set schedule. In the event of system failure or theft, you can restore all of your data with just the click of a button!
2-factor authentication – Add an extra layer of security to your most frequently used accounts.
2-factor authentication (2FA) adds an additional layer of security to the login process. This means that when you enter your username and password, you will be required to enter a code generated by your smartphone. This makes it harder for attackers to gain access to your accounts even if they have your username and password, as they would need access to both the 2FA code and their own device in order to log in. Many major email providers offer 2FA options, as do almost every social media platform such as Facebook and Twitter.
Strong passwords – Use secure passwords for all important online services, and keep them private.
To protect your data, you must have strong passwords for all the important services you use. These include email, banking and social media accounts.
To create a strong password:
- Use a password manager to store all your passwords in an encrypted database. If someone has access to this file, they will be unable to recover any of the passwords because they are encrypted using AES256.
- Create passwords with at least 12 characters, including numbers and symbols. Make them complex so that they are not easily guessed by others.
- Never use personal information as a password, such as your birthday or anniversaries.
Make sure a call, email or SMS is legitimate before you click any links.
- Don’t click any links that you are not expecting. If a link comes from an email or SMS, check with the sender to make sure it’s OK to open it.
- Don’t open attachments from unknown sources. If you receive an attachment (eg, PDF file) from someone that you don’t know, contact them before opening it to make sure it’s legitimate and safe to download.
- If an email comes from someone you don’t know, be wary of any links or attachments in the message.
These tips will help you protect your data, but keep in mind that no single strategy is perfect. It’s important to implement a variety of strategies in order to protect the information you have on your computer or the internet. Finally, if someone offers you something too good to be true or asks for sensitive information such as your account number over email or phone calls—trust your gut and don’t give it to them!
