Nowadays, news of data breach is frequent. Companies databases are getting hacked, and hackers steal scores of clients’ data such as usernames, email addresses, and passwords. As an individual, there is you can do to avoid hackers to access your online information. However, there are important things you can do for you to keep your data safe. They include:

1. Encrypting your phone calls and text messages.

Encryption is one of the popular ways to keep data safe. Previously, encryption was a vocabulary that was meant for mathematicians and computer science geeks. Nowadays, due to the technological advances made, encryption has been made easier. Since most companies that offer voice and text message services do not give an encryption, you should make a step forward to install Internet-based apps that will help you to encrypt your phone calls and messages. The apps provide all the information you send or receive online more security. Apps such as WhatsApp on Android and Apple’s FaceTime are a good option.

2. Obtain your passwords from robots

A human brain is a good source and a storage space for passwords but the only disadvantage with the human brain is that the passwords you generate will always take a given pattern. Passwords following a pattern are a rich fishing ground to hackers. Software generated passwords are better since they portray a high level of randomness thus hard to guess. Another weakness that is used by hackers is the tendency of people to use similar passwords for more than one online account. For example, you find a person using the same password on their Facebook, Instagram, twitter, google account and online banking accounts. Use different passwords for different online accounts.

3. Use “passphrases” rather than “passwords.”

Passphrases are different from passwords since they are longer thus making them hard to guess. However, the passwords are restricted in length to up to a maximum of 15 characters. Also, combine the alphabetical letters with special characters.

4. Turn off your computer once you stop using it.

Since leaving your computer on when you are not using it gives a good ground for scammers to install malware on your computer, remember to power it off the moment you stop using it.

5. Install a firewall

Installing firewalls are one of the safest ways to keep your data safe. Firewalls are essential in avoiding suspicious programs, spyware, and viruses from getting into your computer’s system.

6. Other ways to keep your data safe

Among the data safety measures are; making your old hard drives unreadable before you dispose of them, installing anti-malware protection, backing up your data, and covering your computer’s webcam using a sticker.…