Keep Your Data Safe: 5 Reasons Online Security is More Important than Ever

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The Internet touches every faction of daily life. From the time you wake up to the time you go to bed, chances are that you use the Internet quite often. Maybe you order your Venti Caramel Macchiato using the Starbucks app. Or maybe you’re a doctor that uses a tablet to access and maintain sensitive health care data about your patients.

To say that the Internet is a cyber-land built on convenience would be an understatement.

But while you’re ordering your latte or doing your job, there are threats lingering that most people don’t even know about. These days it’s becoming harder and harder to keep your data safe. But, in today’s age, online security is more important than ever. Here are 3 reasons why.

  1. We Use Tons of Data

No matter if you’re at home or at work, we share, store, and access large amounts of data. It’s estimated that top companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook store about 1.2 million terabytes of data. In simpler words, there is a huge amount of stuff available on the Internet.

Big data makes online life much easier. We’re able to quickly find phone numbers and addresses. We can readily share pictures and videos of our lives. We’re quick to share our information with companies to purchase an item or to apply for an online contest.

The huge drawback? Having so much data readily available makes the Internet a goldmine for cyber criminals to steal and misuse personal information. Online thieves are always looking for ways to steal your most prized data, such as your:

  • Banking information
  • Social Security Number
  • Personal information (name, address, etc.)

Unprotected data puts all of us at risk. Because of this, it’s important to practice proper security protocols to keep you and your information safe.

  1. Increase in Mobile Connectivity Has Created New Risks

The ever-growing mobile technology industry has allowed us to remain connected, even when on the go. We use our mobile phones to stay in the loop on social media, to use banking apps, and to search for local restaurants in the area. While mobile phones are a huge convenience, they also present security risks that we’ve never faced before.

Android GMBot was able to remotely gain control of infected devices. It was used to trick victims into giving hackers their banking credentials. SideStepper iOS was able to manipulate mobile traffic, leaving Apple products vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks. And these attacks don’t even begin to scratch the surface.

With every new mobile phone, app, or operating system comes a new slew of vulnerabilities. Mobile users put themselves at even higher risk by failing to install the latest version of their phone’s OS and apps.

Attacks Are More Sophisticated

As technology has changed, so has your average cyber-criminal. In the past, cyber-crime was usually committed by a lone wolf. But these days, criminals are running their operations like businesses. Around the globe there are plenty of firms that exist just to commit cyber-crime. These groups devote their time, money, and resources to find and exploit vulnerabilities, just like a business.

At the same crime, these criminals have greater accessibility to hacking tools. The dark web and underground websites host all sorts of well-designed hacking tools. In some cases, these tools are so advanced that an average Joe Internet user can carry out an online attack.

Most importantly, hackers have more to gain. From health information to personal information, hackers have all sorts of data that can be used for malicious purposes.

How Can You Protect Yourself?

With the ever-growing threats to online security, it’s important to know how to keep your data safe. From using complex passwords to minimizing the information you share, there are many ways to improve your security stance online.

To best position yourself, you may want to consider using an application that provides security services. One to consider is Joinesty. This browser extension makes surfing the Web extremely safe. The app is easy to use and offers a variety of benefits including:

  • Organizing and securing your online accounts
  • Password and login credential management
  • Creating individualized emails

Using a browser extension takes the guessing out of online security and data protection. It also makes it much easier on your end to protect yourself. With this type of application you can use strong passwords without having to remember them.

Conclusion

The online world offers plenty of benefits and conveniences, but it can also be dangerous. When using the Internet, be sure you know how to properly protect and secure your data. Otherwise, your information may be at risk of being accessed and used by a hacker. If you had to choose, we’re certain you’d pick a long password over years of dealing with identity theft issues. Here’s to safe browsing!