Ever since humanity gained interest in technology, the rapid growth of various tech devices never ceased to end. At first, not many people realized the potential damage these modern devices could cause. It wasn't until the 80s when the first cases of data breaching appeared and only grew in number from that point on.

Even though the latest tech brings many great things, it also has several downsides. With technological advancements more evident each year, the darker side of the same technology develops at a steady pace.

Maintaining digital privacy on the internet and securing data is now more important than ever. In this post, you'll be able to read everything you need to know about it.

Challenges of the Digital Era

As already mentioned, contemporary technology brought quite a few challenges with it. Although it unarguably provides countless benefits, people are struggling with several things:

1. Cloud

Printers are almost a thing of the past as more information is uploaded and stored on clouds. Although less printing is more environmentally friendly and companies that limit their printing are highly praised, keeping sensitive data on the cloud can be dangerous.

Easily accessible, clouds are among the first things attackers go for when looking for a weak spot, so they can harvest any information that may be available on the cloud.

2. IoT

Similar to cloud storage, the Internet of Things gained a lot of popularity in the last several years. Namely, now you can access all your smart devices with just an internet connection, wherever you are. It allows you to set the temperature in your fridge from your smartphone, automatically inform a mechanic about the oil levels in your car, and much more.

Although IoT comes with great perks and features, if someone gains access to your private data, they can manipulate every device you connect to a single network.

3. Remote work

With the rise of modern technology, more and more companies choose to operate over the internet. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized this notion.

Although it allows each employee to work remotely and from the comfort of their home, online presence leaves a trace that hackers follow without much trouble. It's not surprising that 2020 witnessed a record-breaking number of hacking-related incidents.

4. Advanced malware

As the tech advances, so do the harmful malware. With a more seamless experience, viruses and other hurtful software have a sophisticated design that allows them to lurk for a long time before being noticed. Since they're frequently updated and regularly change their shape, it's challenging to detect and remove the malicious software.

5. Data theft

When attackers get to sensitive information via clouds, IoT, online presence, or specially designed malware, they can use the obtained information in several different ways. Blackmailing, identity theft, and theft of bank details are just some of the possible outcomes.

Top Digital Privacy Lessons

If you want to avoid any serious issues, several easy but efficient steps are more than enough to defend yourself from malicious attacks. Consider the following four tips for building top-notch digital privacy online.

1. Increase the protection of data

Improving security measures is the first step towards safeguarding people from data losses. You can do this in many ways, starting from changing your weak passwords to stronger ones, requiring confirmation before gaining access to sensitive data, all the way to using a VPN. A VPN app is one of the best ways of elevating your privacy and anonymity online. It encrypts your traffic, conceals your IP address, and limits the ways intrusive entities can track your movements. 

2. Stay informed

Keeping up to date with all the latest advances in tech will allow you to distinguish between safe and unsafe sources on the internet. Also, being informed about the latest virus and ransomware designs can help you detect any potential damage that may be lurking in your environment.

3. Manage your IoT devices

Providing an extra security step for all IoT devices can make a big difference in overall internet safety, especially for companies with a large number of devices connected to a network. Additionally, AI technology can also be useful in detecting possible malware and blocking its further access.

4. Know your rights

Privacy can seem miles away with the endless ways apps or digital entities can track you. However, if you are well aware of the rights you have, it will be easier to find practices that are questionable. For instance, every time you register for a new service or install a new app, do not forget to pay their privacy policies a visit. Find out just how the company will use your data and whether you have a say in managing it. According to an HBR study, people are much more worried about their digital data than ever before. Sadly, these concerns are not reflected through their actions. Thus, be the exception and look for ways to become more private online. 

Conclusion

All in all, now it's more important than ever to keep informed about the possible threats. With so many companies turning to remote work and strongly depending on the internet, they can suffer great losses without a strong digital privacy strategy.

Make sure to implement the provided tips and tricks to maintain the highest level of security for yourself, your employees, and your business.