No matter which industry you belong to, data remains the most valuable asset for all. That’s why you need to take the necessary steps to keep it protected.
As viruses are getting advanced and hackers have started using varying tactics for scamming users, a good cyber security strategy has become mandatory for businesses. Though large firms have much complicated cyber security strategies , the primary focus is to protect data. Since for data storage, both PCs and cloud servers are used, you need to protect files on both of them.
So, if you are wondering what you can do to secure your data, here are 5 insightful tips that will help you protect your files on your PC as well as in the cloud servers. Let’s get started!
How to Protect Your PC Files and Cloud Data?
The following 5 tips will guide you on how you can protect your files and folders on your computer and in the cloud.
1. Protect files with a Strong Password
People often overlook the password strength which can become a problem in the future as hackers can easily breach it. However, a password is a primary step for securing your data. That’s why you must set up cloud accounts with strong passwords. Also, ensure that your computer’s account has a complex password that no one can guess easily.
A general rule of thumb for setting up strong passwords is to go for a random word instead of naming it after something too predictable. Therefore, you should avoid using names, birthdays, pet names, etc as your password. Besides, a password should not be too short and easy to predict words.
Moreover, it is also critical that you follow the instructions for passwords carefully. Usually, cloud storages recommend at least 8-character passwords which include both letters as well as numbers. Also, the letters should be uppercase and lowercase and you can use special characters too.
2. Two-Factor Authentication
To further support your primary security seal – password, two-factor authentication can be highly effective. Two-factor authentication is a login verification system that will send you a notification each time your account is being accessed from another browser. Through this, you will be able to see suspicious logins and can take steps to block them.
If you set up a 2FA login you would need additional information other than the account password. This information can be a verification code, PIN, or even a particular question that only the account owner knows. The verification code or PIN is sent to you on another device and without which it would be impossible to access the account.
The 2FA login is quite common now and is available with various cloud storage. It provides additional protection to your cloud accounts and PCs and helps in keeping your data safe.
3. Conceal Data with Steganography
Steganography is another way to ensure the security of your data on computers and cloud servers. It is the process through which you can conceal your data regardless of its type. It can conceal your sensitive data by saving it within the other data type. So, for instance, if you want to hide a text file you can hide it in the JPEG image folder, video folder, or audio folder.
The data you conceal with steganography is termed ‘hidden text.’ For hiding the data, you need to apply encryption to it before embedding it with other data. There are various ways of data encryption and the most common one is to save it in bits representing pixels of the same color in an image. After that, you can hide that data in other folders.
4. Use VPN for Safe Browsing
Another precautionary measure you can take for keeping your data secure is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) . A VPN ensures a secure path for safe browsing. It hides your IP address and your current location from hackers. There is a misconception that you can remain hidden if you use private mode in browsers. However, it isn’t true and you would need a VPN for that purpose.
A VPN helps you remain untraceable as it hides your internet activities and leaves no digital footprints. Because of that, you can also freely use the public wi-fi. Since cyberattackers would not be able to trace your digital footprints you will be more protected.
However, for safe browsing, it is essential that you opt for the right VPN according to your requirements. You should consider the limit for connections, device compatibility, unique IPs, locations, and servers they provide.
5. Use Encrypted Cloud Service
If you are wondering how to protect your cloud data from hackers then choosing an encrypted cloud service is essential. Encrypted cloud service can secure your data by ensuring its encryption and decryption. It encrypts the data before uploading it to the cloud and then decrypts it whenever you have to access it. This way your data on the cloud as well as on your PC will be encrypted and protected.
Apart from that, encrypted cloud services also provide you with automatic backups. Therefore, if you meet any type of cyber incident, you would not lose your valuable data as backups help in recovering data instantly. Besides, as the files are completely encrypted neither server administrators, nor service providers can access them.
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Final Thoughts
As cyber incidents around the globe are increasing every day, it has become necessary to have a solid cyber security strategy in place. For that, you must protect your data on your PC files and in the cloud.
Here we discussed 5 actionable tips for securing your data from hackers. Firstly, you must not overlook the importance of strong password strength. Secondly, you must have two-factor authentication to provide more security. Also, you can hide the data with steganography. In addition, you should use VPN and encrypted cloud service to keep the data safe.