Security breaches, skimming scams, and identity theft
happen more often than they should and it’s up to us to protect ourselves as
much as possible.
The National Cyber Security Alliance marks the annual
Data Privacy Day in late January to “empower individuals and business to
respect privacy, safeguard data and enable trust” according to their website
staysafeonline.org.
Personal information online, like your banking
information, car payments, electric bills, connect directly to your money. Banks
work hard to protect your information but you can help to protect your data at
home with simple steps. The beginning of the year is a great time to buy
additional security software to defend against malware and online scams.
The new year is a great time to create more complex,
secure passwords. The website listed above offers great recommendations on how
to create unbreakable passwords that will help keep your sensitive information
safe.
Security for an apartment community’s Wi-Fi network is
critical. Sharing your internet or password can be dangerous. If you have dual
band connections, you should always use your phone and your computer on the
secure network. Never leave your internet connection open to the public and
don’t use connections that are open to the public without security software.
Checking email in your community’s theater or lounge can
be a great way to be social and still stay productive. If you are planning to
use public Wi-Fi, use one that requires a password and make sure that your
computer runs security to prevent anyone from stealing your data or personal
information.
Living in a digital age, there are new apps and
technologies to make our lives simpler and more connected. This progress also
requires a bit more vigilance.