Let’s imagine for a second that your credit card info was compromised due to your bank’s negligence with data security and someone took it out on a spending spree. You go to the bank to report it, only to find that through some technicality, you’re still responsible for whatever charges went on the card. You’d be furious, right?
It’s for these reasons and more that guarding sensitive data against exposure online is more critical than ever before. But what is sensitive data, and how do we protect it?
Well, we’re glad you asked. It’s time to delve into our guide on how to avoid a costly sensitive data exposure!
But enough talk! Let’s get right to it.
What is Sensitive Data?
Sensitive data refers to any data that contains personal or financial information (think credit card numbers, Social Security data, phone numbers, etc.). When it comes to hacks of said data, they fall under two categories: breaches and exposure.
Breaches occur when someone hacks into a system and steals information to either sell, destroy or misuse in some form. Exposure happens when proper security measures are not taken to protect raw data, leaving it out in the open for any passerby to witness.
Exposure often happens as a result of negligence of data security. Missteps in programming will also cause this (like keeping a template cryptographic key in a program rather than implementing a proper one).
How to Prevent Sensitive Data Exposure
To avoid this catastrophe from occurring, one of the best things you can do is to stay alert. Monitor the activity of any website or application that uses your financial info with care so you can spot discrepancies and get them taken care of before they balloon into a bigger problem. Frequent checks of your credit reports will also help here.
You should also monitor which sites or applications get access to your sensitive data. Only use sites that you trust, and make sure that these sites carry the HTTPS tag, which means that they use a secure connection more protected from leaks.
When it comes to the physical hardware that stores data, make sure it gets disposed of properly so hackers cannot take the hardware and dissect it to grab any sensitive info inside. You can search online for more information on how you can hire companies to recycle this tech without leaving it open to theft.
You can also work to reinforce data security on your end. Make sure you use a variety of strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication on your accounts whenever you can.
Getting some form of security software (like McAfee) is also a great way to reinforce your security. Make sure you update it whenever possible to ensure you have the most advanced protection ready to go.
Cybersecurity Peace of Mind
And there you have it! Now that you know all about how to avoid a costly sensitive data exposure, you can rest easy knowing your data is that much more secure! If you found this article helpful, feel free to share it around so your friends and family can protect themselves too.