Data Security Techniques
If the internet and information technology have made our lives simpler, it has also given birth to a number of security-based threats. Therefore, it has become equally important to protect your crucial data and other information with appropriate data security techniques and data privacy. However, your first task at hand is identifying the confidential data that you want to protect from getting leaked out. This identification can only be made after you have carefully completed the auditing. Once you have understood the data security meaning, your next job is to get a methodical understanding which portions of your data are vulnerable and needs definite protection.
The hackers, the phishers, and the pharmers have become quite smart these days and so you need to be smarter than them to nullify any risk factors that exist. Data security techniques highlight all the vital steps comprehensively that need to be taken to keep your information secure and intact. But it is important to remember at this juncture that not all steps may be applicable and relevant to every company.
Top 8 Important Examples Of Data Security
Lets’s Get Start With The 8 Important Examples Of Data Security Techniques and Privacy:
#1. Data Security Techniques – Installation of Antivirus Software
After you understand the data security meaning let’s get started with different kinds of viruses and malware threats keep on attacking the computer system. Hence it becomes quite essential that every computer system should have updated antivirus software installed on it and its one of the best data security examples. Mere installation of the software will not solve your purpose but you need to update it on a regular basis at least in a week. You must have the knowledge of configuring the software. However, it is also pivotal for you to know about the different kinds of viruses. Of course, they are unwelcomed guests penetrating your computer through various sources such as external hard disks including infected pen drives, CDs or DVDs, browsing of unprotected websites, emails and other files and documents. Some viruses can be easily detected and removed with the antivirus software while others are hidden and it becomes difficult to trace them. Other than the viruses the computer can also get affected by-
- Trojan Horses
This is a Greek term which if penetrates into your computer can bring malicious codes which can create an adverse impact on important files and software. Trojan horses basically attack the system when you are downloading something from an unknown and unprotected source. Thus, you need to check the authenticity of the website before starting to download a file.
- Worms
According to the security experts, the worms pose even a greater threat than the virus and can easily enter your system. They usually attack through fraud emails or fake websites infecting the files and documents. They spread more rapidly and attack the bulk system at one time.
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#2. Installation of Latest Updates to Purge Data Security Techniques Threats
It was found through a study that most of the Microsoft software such as the operating system like Windows XP has highly sensitive codes. It is likely that these codes may have some errors which are difficult to detect at times but this is also one of the best data security examples. These errors mainly include the improper function of the codes, program lockups and so on. They tend to weaken the security which the hackers easily take advantage of. They are able to access the protected files and often can damage the data through different illegal methods.
However, it is not that such issues cannot be addressed. You can make use of updates and patches by downloading them for free. They are also referred to as the service packs. You should keep an eye on the program updates. It is better not to use old versions of the Microsoft operating system or MS Office like 1998, 2001, 2003, XP, 0W`ord doc, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook and so on.
#3. Data Security Techniques – Do not Use Spyware and Adware
As a computer owner, you not only have to be vigilant about the threats of viruses and worms penetrating the computer system but also various other hazards that are evil and dangerous for your confidential files and documents. It is better to browse or surf the internet all alone. See to it that nobody is spying your browsing habits and gathering sensitive information from your computer. But before that, you should know that adware is.
- Adware
Adware is usually a spying software using which a person can get to know what kind of web pages you visit on the internet. You might have come across pop-up ads which basically appear in a different window while browsing the internet. If you want to get rid of such unnecessary ads, then you need to immobilize some parts of JavaScript and ActiveX controls. However, there are a few exceptions to fake adware. This largely depends on the authenticity of the software and the agreements of its licensing.
- Spyware
On the other hand, Spyware is like unwanted bugs that infringe your computer on its own. They are basically Trojan horses or an illegal file that automatically gets downloaded even when you do not want it. It spices your info and your activities on your computer thereby recording them all on a hard drive without your knowledge. This indeed makes the job easier for the hackers as they can easily detect your confidential information such as the passwords, bank details, ATM card pin and so on.
#4. Data Security Techniques – Always Choose Unusual and Tricky Password
Many times you must have read that the hackers were able to hack an email account or a website because they could easily crack down the password. A password is one of the important tools which keep all your information safe and secure. It is advisable to choose a password which has a good strength in terms of characters. You might complain that complicated passwords are quite difficult to memorize and often people tend to forget them. But you can note it down somewhere. The following necessary steps must be ensured to keep your password-secured-
- Always write down your password at a safe and secure place and not on computer monitor screens where it can be easily accessed
- When you are signing into your account (email, Facebook or Twitter), the administrator usually offers you two options; Remember the Password and Nope. Never choose the first option. By doing so anybody operating your computer can view your password
- Don’t disclose your password to anyone not even to your closest friend or relative on whom you completely trust
- You should keep on changing your password for a duration of every few months. Never keep one password for any account too long
- Try to maintain different passwords for different accounts. For instance, the password of your email id should not match with Facebook or vice-versa. Suppose you have to email id’s even then the password should never be the same
#5. Data Security Techniques – Creating a Strong Password
A strong password is also in the list of data security examples because you already are much aware of the necessity of creating a full length and strong password which does not fall on the radar of the hackers easily. The attackers usually make use of password cracking tools such as intelligent guessing, automation, and dictionary of the attacks.
Some Essential Features of a Strong Password
- An ideal length of any password is not less than eight characters
- It should always include a character typed in upper case, lower case, special characters such as (@,#, $) also known as symbols and at least one number from one to zero. It is ideal to put symbols in second or sixth position
- Please do make these as your passwords; your name, user id, date of birth, the locality where you live, the name of your parents, school or institution name, your vehicle number, mobile number or any extremely easy word.
#6. Data Security Techniques – Try to Avoid the Endangers of Emails
We often have a presumption that an email is one of the most important and effective means of electronic communications today. It’s absolutely correct. However, one has to view the other side of the coin as well. If you are not alert and keeping a vigil on your email account, then you are landing into lots of trouble. The cyber experts believe that emails are the easiest and quickest methods probably employed by attackers to send viruses into the bulk of computer systems in an office. Here are the steps to ensure email security and privacy.
- Password Protected Emails
Nearly every email id is protected by a password and you need to sign in by typing username and password. Nobody can use your email account for any purpose without knowing the password.
- Check everything before pressing Send
It is extremely easy to send an mail to anybody with just a click on the Send button. However, you need to be very careful before sending an email to anybody. It should be ensured that you have entered the correct and full email address of the receiver. As an owner of the company, it is your responsibility to teach your employees the process of protecting confidential information.
- Maintain the Privacy Statements
Most of the large companies have a privacy statement which is included in their emails. You will mostly find it towards the end of the mail probably in the form of signature text. Well, if you ask an expert, he would certainly say that it is a great tool to have in your asset.
- Do not get under Phishing Attack
These are the common tricks used by hackers or phishers to trap victims through fake or hoax email id’s to know some sensitive information such as bank details and other financial info. They often make use of company logos and email ids of reputed and large companies to target their victims. The email will appear to be fully authentic but it is just an illegal mail. They try to entice people through huge cash prizes and other rewards. Please be very careful and do not answer back to any such emails. Delete them immediately.
- Use of E-mail encryption
This is yet another effective and useful way of protecting your emails from hackers especially if the content of the message is exceedingly confidential. In such a scenario it really becomes quite difficult for anybody to decode the content because it is in an unencrypted format.
- Make Use of Spam Filters
Spam is the unnecessary or the unwanted emails which enter into your inbox and every time you have to clean them. However, with the use of the spam filters, you can get rid of such unsolicited emails as they will not allow them to come to your inbox. You know that most spam is fake emails that do not have any relevance to your work. They can be sent intentionally loaded with the virus to disrupt the computer system.
#7. Data Security Techniques – The Usefulness of Installing Firewall
Installing a firewall is also one from the data security examples because when you are using the internet, the connection established is from both sides. However, while accessing the internet, you may come across some unauthorized web pages unknowingly. Thus, you need a strong security tool to prevent such an instance. Practically speaking, the firewall always plays the all-important role of a guard protecting your system against visiting fake websites. It will keep an eye on all the ports and warn you as soon as you enter into the unprotected territory of a website.
You can install the important firewall either in the form of hardware or data security techniques software. Talking about the installation process, software firewalls are always easier to install. However, they can be used for a single computer system only. On the other hand, the hardware firewalls basically protect an entire network of computer systems. Whichever internet connection you may use; it is important to install a firewall whether for your personal system or for the office.
#8. Data Security Techniques – Locking your All Important Files & Documents
In Data security examples, locking your files and document is also a useful example of data security techniques because electronic data can be accessed from anywhere in the world and so if you do not want that all your documents are accessed by everyone, then lockdown and protect your data wherever it is. However, you must remember the place where you have secured your data. Apart from that, it is extremely important to protect your servers as well.
Conclusion – Data Security Techniques
The data and other vital information stored in the computer system are quite sensitive and confidential for you as well as your company. With cyber threats looming large, ensuring a robust and fortified security data and privacy has become very crucial. In addition to following the steps, you should always remain alert and attentive while using the internet.
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