Protect Your Data

Global hacking was front-page news this week, affecting businesses, government agencies and hospitals in at least 150 countries, reported The Wall Street Journal. Disney also claimed that a hacker had kidnapped one of its movies and threatened to release portions of the film online if a ransom was not paid. What can you do to protect your business and personal data from being compromised? A recent article in The New York Times offered how-to guidance.

• Encrypt your data using Signal or WhatsApp to send text messages. Encryption is a fancy computer-geek term for scrambling data. Facebook Messenger and Google Allo provide options to encrypt your messages.

• Use FileVault or BitLocker to protect computer hard drives. Both Apple and Windows offer an automatic encryption option.

• Improve passwords from being easily stolen by using password managers such as LastPass, 1Password or KeePass. You should keep a written record of all your passwords and store the record at your home or at another venue away from the office. When setting passwords, your best bet is to scramble letters, punctuation marks and numbers.

• Use two-factor authentication to protect your email, social media and other accounts. This requires anyone who is using a new device to access your email to have a code in order to gain access to your Inbox.

• Use a browser plug-in that encrypts your connections to websites such as HTTPS Everywhere. Also make sure that your Wi-Fi network is secure.

• Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to shield browsing information and hide your location. Three VPN providers are Freedome, TunnelBear and Private Internet Access.

• Don't rely on Incognito to hide your identity. Instead, consider using Tor which enables private web activity, but keep in mind that the program is relatively slow and chunky.

• Consider using alternative search engines other than Google. DuckDuckGo may be a better choice for sensitive searches.

• Cover your webcam to prevent someone who hacks your computer from seeing you through your computer's camera.