In a time when almost every aspect of our lives is connected to the internet, protecting personal data is more critical than ever. Our data is continuously collected and stored whether we use social media, make purchases online, or use smart devices at home. However, this convenience increases the risk of cyber threats like identity theft and unauthorized access to our personal data.
Everyone should understand cybersecurity; it’s not just for technical experts. This essay examines the foundations of cybersecurity, how your data is at risk, and doable solutions to safeguard your personal data in the current digital landscape.
What is cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is a never-ending effort to protect individuals, organizations, and governments from online attacks. There are three types of levels of cybersecurity:
- Personal Level: To safeguard identity, data, and devices.
- Organizational Level: Every employee is responsible for protecting the organization’s reputation, data, and customers.
- Government Level: As more digital information is gathered and shared, its protection becomes even more vital at the government level, where national security, economic stability, and the safety and well-being of citizens are at stake.
Protecting your personal data
Personal data is any information that can be used to identify an individual person. There are two types of personal data: Offline (in the form of a document) and Online (social media, browser fingerprinting, and websites).
Tips to pick a username:
- Don’t use your full name.
- Don’t use an email address.
- Don’t use the same username and password combination.
- Don’t use an odd username and password.
- Use words that are part of your life and that only you know.
Your Data
Personal data includes your name, social security number, date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, online messages, and pictures/videos.
Cyberattackers can use this sensitive information to identify and impersonate you, infringing on your privacy and potentially damaging your reputation.
Information like:
- Medical records: Every time you go to the doctor, your electronic health records (EHRs) are updated with personal information on your physical and mental health. Because most of these records are maintained online, you must be mindful of the medical information you provide.
Read More: Ascension Ransomware Attack Affects 5.6 Million Patients
- Education records: Education records contain information about your academic qualifications and achievements. They may also include your contact information, attendance records, disciplinary reports, special education records, and individualized education programs (IEPs).
- Employment and financial records: Employment data can be valuable to hackers if they can gather information on your past employment or performance reviews. Your financial records may include information about your income and expenditures. Your tax records may include paychecks, credit card statements, credit scores, and bank account details. If not appropriately safeguarded, this data can compromise your privacy and enable cybercriminals to use your information for their own gain.
Where is your data?
Data is everywhere, and it cannot be controlled by anyone. Data can be in devices, servers, etc.
Examples
- Social Media: You clicked and shared a picture on your private social media account. Is the picture limited to only your account? The answer is “NO.” The image is on the social media server. If anyone hacks your account or the server, the attacker has access.
- Loyalty Cards: These cards may be a convenient way to save money on purchases. However, the store uses these cards to learn your purchasing behavior, which it can then use to target you with special offers from its marketing partners. This attack is known as social engineering.
Smart Devices
Wearable technologies such as smartwatches and activity trackers collect data for health monitoring and fitness and well-being tracking. As the global fitness tracker market grows, so does the risk to your personal data.
What do hackers want?
When people hear the word “Hacker,” they think about cyberattacks and all the wrong things. Are hackers really bad? The answer is “NO.” What is the honest answer? Hackers are defined in two ways: white hat hacker (Good hacker) and Black hat hacker (Bad hacker).
Really, but I never heard about this. This is because whenever a cyberattack happens, all news channels, social media, and newspapers quote the hacker, not the black hat hacker. Got it!
The question is why hackers black hat hackers hack or want to gain sensitive information. The question looks simple, but the answer cannot be concise to anyone. It depends on the motive of the attacker. This should be money, destroying someone’s life, exposing criminals or corrupt people, and something else.
Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when an attacker uses your identity to get access to online accounts such as social networking, online banking, OTT platforms, and so on.
Examples:
- Medical Theft: Rising medical costs have led to increased medical identity theft, with cybercriminals stealing medical insurance to use the benefits for themselves.
- Banking: Stealing private data can help cybercriminals access bank accounts, credit cards, social profiles, and other online accounts. With this information, an identity thief could file a fake tax return and collect the refund. They could also take loans in your name and ruin your credit scores.
Who else wants your data?
It’s not the attackers who want your data. Some companies or organizations make money by selling your data. Here, some companies are 95% of the total companies. They are:
- Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Your ISP tracks your online activity; in some countries, it can sell this data to advertisers for profit. ISPs may also be legally required to share your information with government surveillance agencies or authorities.
- Advertisers
Targeted advertising is part of the internet experience. Advertisers monitor and track your online activities, such as shopping habits and personal preferences, and send targeted ads.
- Search engines and social media platforms
These platforms gather information about your gender, geolocation, phone number, and political and religious ideologies based on your search histories and online identity. This information is then sold to advertisers for a profit.
- Websites you visit
Websites use cookies to track your activities to provide a more personalized experience. However, this leaves a data trail linked to your online identity that can often end up in the hands of advertisers.
Conclusion
Although the digital age offers remarkable convenience, it presents new challenges for safeguarding personal data. Cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to obtain information via social media, smart devices, or other online platforms.
Your chances of becoming a victim of cyberattacks can be considerably reduced by being aware of the risks and taking preventative measures, such as locking your devices, creating strong passwords, and monitoring your data’s whereabouts. Remaining alert and alert is the best way to protect your identity and privacy in today’s connected world.
