1. Your Data Trail<\/h2>\n
Almost everything we do with modern technology leaves a digital trail, and there\u2019s no real way of escaping it as long as it’s connected to the\u00a0internet. If there are no passwords or certain encryption in place within your devices, your data is less secure and easier to infiltrate.<\/p> <\/p>\n All encryption technologies\u00a0( such as https, SSL, VPN and 4G encryption) routinely used to protect online transactions. However, even encryption of various tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Yahoo\u00a0can be\u00a0cracked, which means our data is not as secure as we always believe it to be.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Its safe to assume that all free web email services are not 100% secure, including Gmail, Yahoo etc. Fastmail<\/a> is a secure and recommended choice by many, but be prepared to pay for a more secure email service.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Encryption is the name of the game when it comes to protecting your data privacy. Many years ago, it seemed like rocket science, but today\u00a0there are plenty of open source applications. These include\u00a0GPG for Mail<\/a>,\u00a0an open source plug-in for the Apple Mail programme. These programmes however cannot prevent\u00a0the government from demanding your encryption key under the Regulation of\u00a0Investigatory Powers Act (2000)<\/a>. There are nevertheless many disk encryption third-party products available that will allow you to encrypt an entire disk.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once you have backed up your data on a device on a regular basis, it\u2019s important to set permissions so that certain people cannot access your files via networks you are part of.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Having a good password that you change over time is a necessary step in trying to protect your data. South African data users are known to be quite relaxed about password, which makes them vulnerable to people decrypting emails and files. Setting a strong password phrase that you can build on and make stronger as you go will help secure your data. Change your password for different accounts and keep changing it (obviously while remembering it).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Protect your data while in transit, and only send or store data through\u00a0encrypted wireless networks, preferably those with Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), which is stronger than Wired Equivalent Protocol (WEP).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"giphy](\"https:\/\/albertonrecord.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2016\/01\/giphy-72.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n2.\u00a0Encryption cracked<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n3. Emails<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/h2>\n4. Encryption services<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/h2>\n5. Backup<\/h2>\n
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\nThere are plenty of cloud services and physical devices to backup your data. However, US, France and UK-based cloud services like Dropbox, iCloud and Evernote have been known to be hacked into by NSA and similar bodies. A number of\u00a0big companies and Hollywood celebrities can also attest to major hacks into their cloud accounts.<\/p>\n6. File Permissions<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n7. Password Protect<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n8. Wireless Transmission<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n9. Steganography<\/h2>\n