Staying Safe Online Part 1 of 2 - Cybersecurity and Data Protection

Ensuring data privacy and security is crucial to safeguarding personal information in our era of widespread internet use. With internet usage expanding exponentially over the years, a massive amount of personal and sensitive information is collected and disseminated every minute, increasing the risk of getting hacked. Mishandling your data can lead to serious consequences, including identity theft, privacy loopholes, harassment, and cyberbullying. Effective security measures are essential to protect data from malicious actors and minimize potential impacts. In today’s show, we will provide fundamental information about cybersecurity and recommended preventive measures from professional security consultants to help you safeguard your internet-related systems.

With phone theft on the rise, stolen personal data can result in identity fraud and financial loss for victims. It is highly recommended to opt for fingerprint or facial recognition if it is available. Secondly, remember to back up your device when possible. Next, it is recommended to turn off text or message previews. Protect your SIM card with a SIM PIN if you’re an international traveler. Turn on your phone-finding app and make a note of your phone serial number. In addition, Apple offers an extra security measure, which is setting up a 28-character recovery key to prevent criminals from locking you out in case you lose both your phone and the passcode.

Many cybersecurity experts also recommend rebooting your smartphone every day to forcibly close any background processes or applications. Even though it may not fully protect your device, it certainly makes it more difficult for hackers to break in. “The FBI issuing a tweet cautioning you against using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers, warning you could be unwittingly giving a criminal all the information off your phone.”

An ethical hacker who hacked into people’s devices for a living recently disclosed some of the common online mistakes as a reminder to avoid falling victim to theft. Users should safeguard their desktop or laptop using the best anti-virus software applications and schedule scans regularly. Instead of using the same password, opt for two-factor authentication or a password manager if available. […]

Researchers from several universities in the United Kingdom have recently revealed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can accurately decipher passwords or other data from the sound of keystrokes on a keyboard. How do we protect passwords from these sound-based side-channel attacks? The experts suggested some possible mitigations like using fingerprint or face scanning when possible, utilizing password managers, adding cases to passwords, changing typing style, or randomly adding some false keystroke.