5 Ways To Keep Your Digital Possessions Safe

There were 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide in 2021 (almost 60% of the global population) who are said to have created 74 zettabytes of data. A zettabyte is a billion terabytes or a trillion gigabytes — in other words, an incomprehensible amount of information. In that immense pool of data also falls our private and even confidential information.

“Our lives have become paperless as physical possessions have been increasingly moving to the virtual world, such as photographs, books, tax forms, and various certificates, with the help of passwords, electronic signatures, and online banking,” says Oliver Noble, a cybersecurity expert at NordLocker, an encrypted cloud storage solution. “Even though it’s become easier to store your data and have access to it whenever you want, the risk of it being stolen, compromised, or exposed is higher than ever.”

Cybercriminals launch new malicious software every day and target both big companies and average users. As a study of a nameless malware that stole 1.2 TB of private data from 3.25 million devices has shown, data protection must be made a priority.

5 steps to keep your digital possessions safe

1. Protect your data with strong passwords. Use a password manager to help you create complex and unique passwords and store them in a safe vault. Never use the same password for different online accounts to avoid losing data to credential stuffing attacks.

2. Always back up your files. Back up your data to a portable hard disk or cloud-based storage so you can recover your information if it ever gets lost. Regular data backups are the ultimate defense against losing your digital valuables forever.

3. Encrypt your sensitive data. Encrypt the sensitive files you store on your computer, smartphone, and in the cloud. There are user-friendly file-encryption tools that turn all your files and information into uncrackable codes that even skilled hackers can’t read without your permission. Better yet, store your files in an encrypted cloud. In many cases, an end-to-end encrypted cloud is the ultimate security tool to protect your data from malware and provide a backup in case your system is infected with ransomware.

4. Protect your data when browsing the web. Start using a VPN (virtual private network), which encrypts all communications passing between your device and the internet so no outsider can intercept your traffic.

5. Install antivirus on your computer. Antivirus software remains one of the most reliable tools to protect your system. It detects and removes viruses and infected files from your device.

ABOUT NORDLOCKER

NordLocker is the world’s first end-to-end encrypted cloud with a file encryption tool. It was created by the cybersecurity experts behind NordVPN – one of the most advanced VPN service providers in the world. NordLocker is available for Windows and macOS, supports all file types, offers a fast and intuitive interface, and guarantees secure sync between devices. With NordLocker, files are protected from hacking, surveillance, and data collection. For more information: nordlocker.com.