Theft is something that we all must do our best to protect ourselves from. Burglary of our homes and car theft are things that spring to mind when we think about theft, but something else which is really important to protect is our personal data.
To criminals, personal data is something that can make them a lot of money, and for the victims of data theft it can cause a lot of problems, so keeping personal data safe is hugely important. There are lots of things that you can do however, to protect your personal data – here are just a few of them…
Secure your Mobile Phone – Your mobile phone has a lot of personal information on it. From personal information, to access to your emails and even your bank account. If you lose your phone or it is stolen, you can see how people would easily be able to access your personal information. Make sure that you have the most security possible on your phone – most modern phones have face recognition and fingerprint ID systems which are a great way to keep them secured and safe from criminals.
Dispose Correctly of Confidential Documents – All of us will have documents that are personal or confidential. Although much is done on email nowadays, letters are still used to share important information. From bank statements to personal medical information. When disposing of these types of documents, it is really important to do it safely and not just put them in our rubbish bins which are put outside giving anyone access to them. Use a local confidential shredding service like this https://www.printwaste.co.uk/confidential-shredding/confidential-shredding-gloucester/ to properly and safely dispose of your personal paperwork.
Be Cautious of Public Wi-Fi – We like to be able to have internet access when out and about and often will look for public Wi-Fi networks that are available. Although this is a handy way to access the internet, it can also be a way that your personal data could be at risk. These types of networks are not encrypted, meaning that if criminals want to, they can gain access to the network to be able to look at what you are doing online through that network. If you do want to use public Wi-Fi, don’t use it to do anything like checking emails or looking at your online banking.