Nowadays, it seems you can't read the news without hearing about another large-scale data breach. Whether it's a massive retailer, a celebrity's smartphone, or even the U.S. government, nobody seems immune from being hacked.
And that's exactly right. We're all vulnerable. And things need to get better. Tens of millions of Americans are affected by a lapse in data security in a given year – sometimes with serious consequences.
Yet, there's no reason for resignation. We can't become passive in the face of constant security breaches. We can't accept this as "the new normal" or the price of doing business in the digital age.
Instead, we need more vigilance and greater awareness. We need to embrace technological solutions to the problem of online security. We sometimes need to adjust our behavior.
In today's world, data is the key to almost everything. It connects us in ways we once would have thought impossible. That said, there's another side to that coin. Our data can be wielded as a potent weapon against us in the wrong hands. It can be used to hurt us financially or to discredit our reputation.
So, how do you walk the line between engagement with the digital world and your protection?
This series proposes to address that. We'll walk you through some of the steps needed to take to safeguard your personal information in several key areas:
- How to Secure Your Phone
- Backing Up Your Personal Information
- Protecting Your Accounts from Hackers
- How to Protect Your Social Security Number
- Social Media and Identity Theft
- Medical Identity Theft
Of course, the technologies and strategies used by identity thieves are constantly evolving. So, we'll also discuss how making a few smart behavioral changes can provide significant protection and how new technology can enhance that protection.
Ultimately, we want to give you a set of tools to negotiate many situations in which revealing personal information is necessary – and how to do so safely.
After all, it's your life and your data.
