Safeguarding Your Data

Safeguard Your Data

By the time you read this article it will be 2019 and no doubt some fresh data breech will have been announced, hand wringing performed, perfuse apologies given, and promises that it won’t happen again issued. The truth, as we all know, is this is far from the truth. Which begs the question who is responsible for my safeguarding my data? The answer is simple: It’s you !  In this accidental digital world we live in you must take action and the time to protect and safeguard you data. The consequences of ignoring it are really very simple – you’ll lose it. Over the next few articles will outline data profiles and some steps you can take to safeguard it

What Is My Data?

Start with the question “what is my data?” and you are on the road to safeguarding it. The average person’s data is spread across multiple devices, networks, computers, and held by many institutions. When it comes to locations outside your control the most important element is to maintain a duplicate, where possible, of what they hold. To help those confused by that the following is a list of data, more will follow in the next articles:

Financial and Insurance records – Account numbers, passwords, policy numbers, access passwords, balances etc.

• Action Required: Ensure you have paper and digital copies of this information in a secured location such a home safe or other hidden location.

Your local digital copy should be, at a minimum, stored in a file which is password protected and where possible encrypted. A usb flash drive that can be hidden is a good idea as a storage location.

 The data includes in the case of your banking, direct debit mandates, credit card numbers including expiration and security code, and emergency number for lost, stolen, or hacked accounts.

• Financial Access passwords: Change your passwords frequently where possible and NEVER use the same password on more than one site or app. Record previously used passwords and do NOT re-use them.

   

If your financial institution offers double authentication use it. Double authentication is where the website sends a code to your phone which you must use in combination with your password and login information to login.

In my next article I will continue on this topic. Stay Safe and happy new year!