Archives - Personal Information


Configure your smartphone to automatically lock after a short period of inactivity

While there’s no one-size-fits-all for how long it should take for your phone to lock following inactivity, generally, the earlier, the better — though, not at the complete expense of convenience. Consider setting an automatic inactivity lock on your smartphone after approximately five minutes or fewer, depending on preference. This, in turn, will help improve […]

Invest in a webcam cover, or ensure your webcam is disabled when it’s not in use

Webcams are a common target for those who seek to invade your privacy. To best safeguard yourself, webcam covers are an affordable, easily implementable safety measure that prevents cybercriminals from gaining unauthorized vision. Alternatively, disabling your webcam while it’s not in use serves a similar purpose, ensuring that no one can access your camera without […]

Implement a device password policy for your household and/or organization

Such policies and/or guidelines may include the following: You may also like to consider implementing an incident response plan, outlining what to do in the case of a security breach or device theft — working to reduce risk by ensuring that everyone is on the same page.

Shred digital files for secure disposal

Deleting files from your computer doesn’t mean they’re really gone. With the right tools, someone could recover sensitive data even after you’ve deleted it. That’s why it’s important to shred digital files before you dispose of them. File shredding software overwrites deleted items to make them far less accessible. There are many different file shredding […]

Be cautious when sharing personal information with online surveys or quizzes.

Scammers may use fake surveys to collect personal data for the purpose of identity theft or fraud, therefore, exercise caution when participating in online surveys or quizzes that request personal information. Always verify the credibility and legitimacy of the website or application before sharing any data, and avoid providing sensitive details like your social security […]

Regularly review and update your privacy settings on social media platforms.

You can fortify your online privacy by regularly reviewing and updating your privacy settings on all social media platforms. Check in on who can view your posts, profile information and friend lists, preferably limiting the visibility of your posts to those you know. Also, regularly review third-party app permissions and revoke access to any suspicious […]