In today’s time, hacking into a person’s smartphone, tablet, laptop or personal computer, router and smart TV is quite rampant. Keeping our passwords, financial and other personal information safe and protected from hackers is now a concern of society, and it’s now increasingly critical for people to heed data protection to keep our sensitive personal information safe and secure.
Just recently, Wikileaks allegedly shared how the CIA devised ways how the secret service agency could hack into a persons’ digital files from various sources- smartphones, computers, email accounts, calls, text messages among others. The CIA, however, has not confirmed nor denied the allegations. Big tech companies such as Apple and Google got to take a look at what they contained and secured the users by making sure to download the recent updates of the operating system regularly in order to avoid a hack.
Elizabeth Weise and Jefferson Graham of USA Today shared a video on how to keep your digital life safer in the Wikileaks era. In their video, they gave several quick ways to secure our digital files and information that are helpful, particularly if one is not tech-savvy. They gave out the following:
- Cover the webcam of the laptop. Facebook owner Mark Zuckerburg and FBI Director James Comey thought of throwing tape over their laptop webcam is a wise way to keep hackers out of a persons business.
- Use a landline. Landlines are far difficult to track and get into than mobile phones and they have strong legal protection.
- Two Factor Authentication. This process entails signing in twice before logging in. First by logging in with a password followed by typing in a code sent to the personal number of a person or via text for another verification.
- Turn off the Wifi. It is a fact that any device that’s connected as a two-way unit is vulnerable.
- Don’t send texts. Avoid sending text that you don’t want to be seen
- Unplug your devices.
- Don’t click unreliable or weird links to avoid fishing scams.
- Update Browser. Don’t use old codes.
- Change passwords regularly. Update every 3 months or use a password manager.
- Use of phrases and songs as passwords.
