Data protection is definitely not the most glamorous topic you’ll encounter on the internet, but definitely is an important one due to the touching stories we read everyday about data loss and theft. In today’s world, where we are constantly sending and receiving data over the internet, it is more important than ever that we take steps to protect our information from trolls and cyber attacks.

Visit secure webpages

One of the most important things you can do when surfing the web is to use a secure connection when sending sensitive information. This means you should use a website or service that encrypts your data before sending it over the internet. You will know a website is encrypted when you see “HTTPS” at the beginning of the web address. HTTPS means Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, which is a combination of HTTP with the Secure Socket Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol – more like HTTP with John Wick and the Avengers as bodyguards. Think of encryption like a secret code – your data is scrambled up into a bunch of gibberish that can only be decoded by the intended recipient. So, even if a cybercriminal intercepts your data as it’s traveling through the internet, they won’t be able to read it without the secret code.

Use strong passwords

Another important step is to use strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts. I know, I know – it can be a pain to remember a bunch of different passwords, especially if you’re like me and can barely remember what you had for breakfast this morning. But using weak or easily guessable passwords is like leaving the front door to your data wide open for cybercriminals to walk right in. So, take the time to come up with strong, unique passwords; or use a password manager to generate and store them for you (Google Chrome does this well) – your data will thank you!

Keep your devices updated

I know those notifications to update your device software can be annoying, but trust me – they’re important. One of the simplest and most effective things you can do is to keep your software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities that cybercriminals could exploit to gain access to your device or steal your data. So, don’t put off those updates, download and install them.

Use antivirus software

Think of anti-virus software like a security guard for your device – it scans for and removes any malicious software that might be lurking on your device, waiting to pounce on your data. And don’t worry, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get good anti-virus software – there are plenty of free options out there that will do the job just fine.

Read also: How does data travel over the internet?

So, there you have it – a few simple steps you can take to protect your data and your device from cyber attacks. And if all else fails, you can always try the tried-and-true method of wrapping your device in a blanket and hoping for the best. Just kidding – please don’t do that. It won’t work, and you’ll just end up with a very warm, very confused device.