Safeguarding Your Data
If you want
to be assured your data is secure you must take some basic steps to ensure that
is the case.
Step 1 Maintain at least two copies of your data and ensure at least one copy is on a usb device
and is not on the cloud. This non
cloud copy should not be readily accessible from any device that is connected
to the internet. This ensures if you data is hijacked you have a copy that is
not compromised. You should make it part of your routine to ensure all copies
are up to date. Relying on one or more Cloud locations to keep copies is
putting all your eggs in one basket
and is not recommended.
Step 2. Do not use free wifi services or
web cafes to access your sensitive data when you are out and about. This
temptation can lead to your passwords and data being hacked. I regularly see
people accessing their email and facebook from free wifi services unaware that
the service may have been hijacked by the person sitting next to them. Avoid it
if at all possible.
Encryption
Where
possible encrypt sensitive information to prevent easy access by cyber
criminals. At a minimum password protect spreadsheets, and documents. There are
several free commercial products available which will encrypt your data and
reduce the chances of your data being easily accessed if your cloud storage is
hacked.
Email
Email is
probably the single biggest Achilles heel
for the cloud computing user. Once a hacker has access to it a myriad of
information is available to them to compromise your security and get access to
your money. Gmail and hotmail are both cloud based emails and I’ve lost count
of the amount of people whom I have dealt with who have been hacked via these
email services. At a minimum you should use the double authentication services
provided. When activated this service sends a code to your mobile which must be
entered with your password each time you
login. As the code changes each time it is a very good method of ensuring
your email is not compromised. Use strong passwords on your email and all other
cloud accounts and don’t keep a list of
these on the cloud. Finally never use the same password across accounts,
change the passwords frequently and never reuse a password.
No comments:
Post a Comment