Social Media Companies and Government organisations have the lowest levels of trust among the public when it comes to protecting private data, according to research from cyber security company Thales. A quarter of consumers do not want to use services that aren’t encrypted, while one in five have stopped using a company that has suffered a data breach.
Chris Harris, EMEA Technical Director, Thales said: “Customers are saying that they’d stop using a service, or not even choose it in the first place, if data protection controls aren’t in place – demonstrating just how important data privacy is today. It’s high-time for organisations to take this seriously, without compromising on performance or user experience."
This week is Data Privacy Week – designed to raise awareness of the risks facing our personal data, and how we can protect it. The security experts at Thales have shared some simple security tips to help you keep your data, and personal information safe.
- Guard your digital identity: Be mindful of where you share your personal information and who with, and be cautious about what information you share online.
- Think before you click: Don’t click on any promotional links sent via email or SMS, rather type the URL of the website directly into your browser, or if on mobile, directly via the app.
- Never reuse: Never reuse the same password between different sites. Implement software that generates unique passwords.
- Be mindful: Remember that your computer or mobile device can contract a virus or malware at any point of you being on a website or app. Practice sensitive caution at all times.
- Always use a VPN: Where possible, use a trusted Virtual Private Network when using publicly-available (and potentially insecure) Wi-Fi networks.
- Shop smart: Always do your research before purchasing and look for assurances that your transaction is secure and payment details kept safely.
- Back up often: Keep your data backed up regularly, so that you don’t lose it if your device or storage is ever compromised.
