Our tips and tools: keep your data safe

Written by Jennifer Clair Robson | 26-Jun-2018 12:31:13

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) can’t have escaped you! It came in force on 25 May 2018 and during the lead up we were swamped with facts, figures and advice relating to privacy, protection and data regulation.

So, this month we’ve pulled together some simple tips and tools to help keep your personal data safe online.

Tools

Create complex passwords.

Okay, so we know you know! But creating strong, unique passwords for all your critical accounts is the single best way to keep your personal data safe. If you reuse your passwords, a hacker can take the leaked data from one attack and use it to login to your other accounts.

Use a password manager to help you store and create strong passwords for all of your accounts.

Choose free wi fi wisely

Free Wi-Fi is great, especially if you’re working from a café, library or airport or if you just want to save eating into your data. Still, you must consider security when you’re out and about. Here’s how to surf safely, on any device. These practical ways will help you stay safe while surfing for free.

Shade your webcam

Control when your webcam is protected with a webcam shade. Covering your camera may make you look paranoid, but webcam snooping is a very real threat. There’s a wide variety of shades on the market to protect yourself from prying eyes along with screen shades and computer locks.

Assess yourself

If your browser isn't safe, you're in trouble! Tools like Panopticlick will analyse how well your browser and add-ons protect you against online tracking techniques.

Tips

Say no to defaults

While you’ll get less personalisation from some services, changing your defaults will curtail advertising powered by your data and, in some cases, stop companies from collecting so much data about you in the first place. This clickable guide will help you fix the complicated privacy settings on Facebook, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Apple.

20 ways to keep your internet identity safe from hackers

Do you use the same password for all websites? Do you overshare on social media? If so, you're a target for cybercriminals whose computer scams are costing Britain £27bn a year. These tips compiled in association with experts will help you protect your data and beat the fraudsters.

And hack-proof your smartphone while you're at it.

It’s true that no one is immune to hacking attacks and smart phones certainly aren’t fool-proof either. Here’s how to protect your privacy, your data and your peace of mind with this guide to beating thieves, whether they’re online or on the street.

Have you found these tips and tools on protecting your privacy online useful? Do you have any you'd like to share with us? Do you know someone who might benefit from giving one of the tools or resources from our list a go?

Please share away, and why not submit your comments below?

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