Ten rules for ensuring the security of a personal computer and preventing data leaks in Australia

Data leakage is one of the most serious problems in the modern digital world. Of course, universal digitalization is beneficial in many ways, opening up new opportunities and allowing users to use numerous online tools. But there is a downside.

There are hackers and entire groups that hunt for other people's data. They try to hack computers and mobile devices, look for vulnerabilities, and then take away personal information. Therefore, you need to protect your personal data.

The Keyonline24 team of experts has prepared a detailed review for you. Here, you can find out how leakage occurs and whom to blame. You will also learn a lot of useful information. Like an answer to the question: what can you do to protect your data? In the end you can also order genuine activation keys for all best cyber security solutions at the best prices on our online store.

Protect your data: What does information leakage mean in Australia and New Zealand

Have you ever wondered how can you protect your data? If not, this is a big mistake. For some reason, many people think information leakage is something about large companies and well-known organizations. Supposedly, only they are at risk of cyberattacks and can suffer from online criminals.

In fact, this is not true. How can you help protect your organization's electronic data? Or how can you protect data from a mobile device, personal computer, or laptop? The first thing you need to know is the essence of the leak of valuable, important, and simply personal information.

Data leakage occurs when confidential important information is obtained, stolen, or disclosed without the owners' permission. It can happen intentionally or accidentally and is caused by different factors, such as common human error, the presence of vulnerabilities in the system, and the penetration of malware onto the device, cyberattacks, etc. Personal data can include passwords, accounts, special access to credit cards, electronic wallets, personal information (photos, videos, audio recordings), and much more.

Due to such situations, a person or an entire organization can suffer significant damage. It could be financial losses, loss of essential data, damage to reputation, etc. You would hardly want photos from your personal archive to leak online. Or some cybercriminals to blackmail you by publishing recordings of your phone conversations if you do not pay the ransom.

Therefore, each of you needs to protect your mobile data and ensure the protection of information on computer devices. Any person can face this problem. After all, almost everyone has information they do not want to lose or see in the public domain.

How do we lose data in Australia and New Zealand

Do you want to know how to protect your data privacy? Then, you need to understand how loss occurs. Studying the reasons for its leakage will make it easier for you to prevent such situations from happening again.

There are many ways to lose personal information and face a leak of confidential data. But the most common are the following.

• Loss, physical theft. Often, devices that contain essential, valuable information can be lost or stolen. Having gained physical access, one can get security passwords and take possession of the information;
• Hacking and malware. Hackers have different methods, tools, and ways to penetrate their victims' devices remotely. For example, they infect them with viruses, spyware, Trojans, ransomware, and more;
• Insiders. Unfortunately, the owners of valuable information may not be surrounded by the most reliable people. They can intentionally or accidentally provoke a data leak;
• Weak passwords. Even if you know how to protect your data, only some use time-tested solutions. It all starts with a weak or obvious password. As a result, it will not be difficult for experienced cybercriminals to guess the password or hack the device in another popular way;
• Phishing. This hacking method is also called social engineering. The essence of the technique is that fraudsters trick people into revealing confidential information;
• Software vulnerabilities or weak protection. When choosing application security tools, many users need to study the actual capabilities of the solution. Unfortunately, not all cybersecurity software works effectively enough. This is especially true for free programs.

There are more than enough ways to lose personal data. Therefore, knowing how to protect your data from hackers and prevent leakage is extremely important.

Security tools: what can you do to protect your data?

Right away, it is essential to say that installing one application to protect your data from ransomware is not enough. After all, there are a vast number of threats that can gain access to your information. Therefore, you should always take a comprehensive approach to organizing protection.

Today, our experts from the Keyonline24 team have prepared 10 of the most useful, effective, and necessary solutions that will quickly help you reliably protect some personal information and prevent a possible leak.

Developing a response plan

Although there are many ways to protect your data, 100% security cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, create an effective response plan if your devices contain valuable information.

It is a set of measures aimed at responding and taking action in case of a leak. For example, change your account login details in order of priority, regularly perform backups, etc. This plan should be tested and improved as needed. The main task is to minimize the damage from a possible leak.

Strong passwords in Australia and APAC

If you know practically nothing about how to protect your data in the cloud, then start with the simplest. These are strong passwords. Oddly enough, this solution is very effective and often helps to prevent data loss.

For these purposes, you can use a password manager to select the most reliable access codes. It is important to change passwords periodically and create combinations with a high level of complexity. Here are a few rules:

• use long access codes;
• add special characters;
• use numbers, capital letters;
• do not tie the meaning of the password to yourself.

In other words, you should not use your pet's nickname, date of birth, last name or first name, the name of your favorite football clubs, and so on as passwords. Experienced hackers will quickly find out your name, hobbies, and interests through your activity on social networks. Then, using a simple selection method, they can crack a password that, for example, consists of any other personal information including the dog's nickname and its date of birth.

Special cyber security tools exist, including powerful password managers. These tools help create strong access codes, store them safely, and change them in a timely manner.

Multi-factor authentication

If cybercriminals gain access to your account, you must ensure you have an alternative way to prevent them. The best solution is multi-factor authentication.

This solution's peculiarity is that you use a password and other ways to confirm your identity to log into your account. Various cloud security tools offer unique authentication methods. For example, you can use a combination of a password, SMS messages, an answer to a security question, biometric data, etc.

Even if an intruder manages to hack or guess a password, they will no longer be able to authenticate on your behalf at the next stage. Therefore, attempting to take possession of personal data will not be successful.

Data encryption in Australia and APAC

Special network security tools allow you to encrypt data instantly in real time before transmitting it. Encryption will also be helpful when storing personal information or important content.

Using inexpensive data security tools, you can reliably encrypt all information and avoid its disclosure. However, this does not protect you directly from theft. Even if the data has been stolen, decrypting it will severely challenge a hacker.

Continuous security training

You need to check and monitor data and conduct special training constantly. It will allow you to maintain the highest possible level of protection. Of course, you should not expose yourself to real threats to ensure you can cope with a cyber attack or fraudster hacking attempts.

Application security testing tools are a useful and effective solution for such situations. We are talking about special programs that can check your level of protection, assess the level of security, find vulnerabilities, and so on. The algorithm is simple. You need to build a line of defense for data and then run a special program. If it shows weak points, you can eliminate them in time. Network security monitoring tools, which help organize protection on the Internet, will be no less useful.

Proper data storage

The next important step is to organize proper storage. As practice shows, many users have valuable, confidential information in a chaotic order. Some things are stored on one disk, some on another. The data is scattered across folders, and there is no structuring.

So, organize your device. Create separate sections, protect them with an increased level of protection, and restrict access. This will allow you to create a hierarchy of information depending on its value and importance. You should always know where your valuable assets are.

Principle of reducing privileges in Australia and APAC

As the results of using security testing tools show, the cause of a leak is very often that too many users have access to your information. For example, if all family members use only one joint account from one computer. Or when you open remote access to files for friends and acquaintances. But remember that giving away the passwords to your PC is the same as giving away the keys to the safe.

Understanding that even unintentional actions can lead to severe losses is essential. Therefore, it is vital to minimize privileges for other users. This means closing access to folders and files and creating several accounts if the PC has several users. The fewer privileges outsiders have, the higher your security level.

Access monitoring

You need to constantly check devices for possible remote access. Monitoring the situation in real-time allows you to identify potential threats in time.

Perhaps someone has intentionally or unintentionally opened access to your data. Constant monitoring allows you to detect and close a vulnerability from outsiders in time. Even an accidentally sent link can cause a powerful and dangerous cyberattack on your computer.

Content audit

Pay special attention to folders and files that are most important to you. Your task is to monitor their access, limit outside interference, and respond to abnormal or unwanted events. A good solution is to use threshold alerts.

Vulnerability assessment in Australia and APAC

A good solution is constant monitoring and assessment of the complex security level. To do this, you can use a few testing tools. Such proactive measures allow you to quickly identify weaknesses, assess risks, and make timely decisions.

Vulnerability assessment activities include scanning devices, systems, networks, and different applications and searching for outdated software, incorrect settings, and weak passwords. If you regularly conduct vulnerability assessments, you will understand what level of security you have at the moment. Therefore, you can take appropriate measures to strengthen protection and prevent unwanted data leakage.

What will help protect your data: IT security tools

Above mentioned ten steps help you consistently control the situation and minimize the risks of losing personal data. However, it is also important to take key measures to protect your information.

• Licensed software. Be sure to use genuine programs, applications, and operating systems. Installing pirated software is a direct way to becoming a victim of cybercriminals. These programs and operating systems are the most vulnerable and very easy to access;
• Reliable cybersecurity solutions. Here, we are talking about installing specialized antivirus software and security programs. Does a VPN protect your data? No. But it is a tool for ensuring your privacy online. In combination with a powerful antivirus, they create a reliable tandem. There are many modern tools for cybersecurity that you can easily find on the Keyonline24 website;
• Regular updates. Updates are always necessary no matter how reliable your antivirus, software, and applications are due to updates, developers closing vulnerabilities, and the overall security and protection level increases. Therefore, try to keep the installation of updates. It is best to schedule these processes when you do not use the device.

Only an integrated approach allows you to protect yourself most reliably from data leaks and cyber attacks aimed at hacking and gaining access to your files and private information. Therefore, adhere to these rules, use licensed software, and use reliable cybersecurity solutions.

If you are interested in genuine activation keys for antiviruses, OSs, and other useful programs, visit the Keyonline24 online store. Here, you will get the best prices and help from a professional support service.