1. Encrypt your data 

2. Backup your data 

3. Make your old computers' hard drives unreadable 

4. Secure your wireless network at your home or business 

5. Use a firewall 

6. Encrypt data on your USB drives and SIM cards 

7. Disable file and media sharing if you don't need it 

8. Create encrypted volumes for portable, private data files 

9. Overwrite deleted files 

10. Don't forget to delete old files from cloud backups 

11. Consciously check and configure app privacy settings 

12. Enable remote location and device-wiping 

13. Take care of privacy settings immediately upon setup 

14. Use MyPermissions.com to control app permissions in one fell swoop 

5. Lock your smartphone and tablet devices 

16. Disable automatic uploading 

17. Disable Bluetooth when you're not using it 

18. Get anti-virus or anti-malware protection for your mobile devices 

19. Check your push notification settings on mobile devices 

20. Enable Touch ID if you use an Apple device 

21. Set up content filters 

22. Set your device to automatically lock after a period of inactivity 

23. Prevent your smartphone from being stolen 

24. Use an on-device, personal firewall 

25. Be mindful of eavesdroppers when shopping via your mobile device in public 

26. Consider using a VPN 

27. Maintain physical control over your devices 

28. Use a personal hotspot 

29. Maintain clear separation between personal and work devices 

30. Implement a cyber security policy 

31. Use encryption 

32. Implement access control 

33. Use a mobile device management platform 

34. Follow security best practices when using video conferencing applications 

35. Ensure that remote workers are educated about phishing 

36. Consider using hardware security keys 

37. Decide what you define as Personally Identifiable Information (PII) 

38. Use secure passwords 

39. Don't use Social Security numbers, phone numbers, addresses, or other personally identifiable information as passwords 

40. Be overly cautious when sharing personal information 

41. Watch out for impersonators 

42. Share passwords carefully 

43. Don't use the same password for more than one account or service 

44. Watch out for theft of your government-issued identification numbers 

45. Don't write your passwords down 

46. Organize your passwords in logical groupings 

47. Avoid faxing sensitive information unless absolutely necessary 

48. Shred old documents and statements 

49. Get rid of old data you no longer need 

50. Properly dispose of electronics 

51. Sign when using debit cards, don't enter your PIN 

52. Sign up for email alerts for transactions 

53. Review your statements regularly 

54. Keep an eye out for small transactions 

55. Be wary of offers of help following a data breach 

56. Get a one-call fraud alert 

57. Shop on familiar websites 

58. Get a free credit report 

59. Be careful shopping online — for personal and business purchases 

60. Don't share too much information on social networking platforms 

61. Customize your social networking privacy settings 

62. Don't trust "friends" who claim to be mugged or have other unbelievable stories 

63. Block suspicious or shady users on Facebook 

64. Protect your Tweets 

65. Check your privacy settings regularly 

66. Know who your friends are 

67. Use two-step verification for LinkedIn 

68. Contact the social network to regain access, and let your friends know if you've been hacked 

69. Avoid sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi 

70. Use website privacy settings 

71. Don't forget to sign out 

72. Don't open emails from people you don't know 

73. Use two-factor authentication 

74. Don't believe everything you read 

75. Use secure websites, especially for sensitive transactions 

76. Avoid clicking on links in emails 

77. Be mindful of your online reputation 

78. Don't download files from untrustworthy websites 

79. Consider using a disposable email 

80. Take advantage of secure mobile access options 

81. Opt out of ad tracking 

82. Don't save passwords in your browser 

83. Use more than one email address for different contexts 

84. Create a dedicated email address for long-term projects 

85. Take stock of your digital footprint 

86. Don’t use social media credentials to register for or sign in on third-party sites 

87. Be careful when searching in categories known for malware 

88. Don't send passwords or account login credentials over public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks 

89. Store your most sensitive data locally 

90. Regular password changes might not actually be necessary 

91. Use an encrypted cloud service 

92. Choose a safe, reputable email provider 

93. Immediately change your passwords following a data breach 

94. Verify that a breach has, in fact, occurred 

95. Request a new card, if applicable 

96. Consider a credit freeze 

97. Take advantage of free credit monitoring 

98. Don't ignore reports from friends about mysterious emails coming from your accounts 

99. Know the warning signs that your data has been breached or that you've been hacked 

100. Regain control over your compromised accounts 

101. Find out precisely why the breach or hack occurred 

How do you protect information?

You protect information by making it inaccessible to unauthorized users and rendering it unreadable or useless if it is compromised or accidentally disclosed. Multiple techniques are used to protect data from unauthorized access including:

• Enforcing strong password policies

• Encrypting data when at rest or in transit

• Implementing multi-factor authentication

• Backing up data to provide the possibility of recovery

• Promoting a zero-trust approach to data security

Why is protecting your information important?

Protecting your information is important because it is a valuable personal and business resource. Hackers are constantly trying to access sensitive data so they can use it to perpetrate crimes like identity theft. Leaving your data unprotected risks it being stolen or used for nefarious reasons. If personal information such as credit card and Social Security numbers are compromised, it can be a nightmare for individuals.

What are three ways that you can protect your information?

Multiple methods can be used to protect your information. The following are three of the most common and effective ways to keep your data secure.

• Limit access to your data by password-protecting your information with a non-trivial password.

• Encrypt data at all times so it cannot be used by unauthorized entities.

• Back up data so it can be recovered in the event of a data loss.

What is the most secure way of protecting data?

The most secure way to protect data is by encrypting it at all times. Encrypting the data makes it useless to any unauthorized users who cannot decrypt the data. At a minimum, data should always be encrypted when being transmitted over public networks like the Internet. More effective protection can be achieved by encrypting data whenever it is in transit and when it is at rest and resident on a storage device.

What is true for protecting classified data?

Classified data is an organization’s most valuable and sensitive information. Its unauthorized disclosure can result in devastating consequences for the organization or affected individuals. The importance of classified data means it should be protected using the most effective methods. This includes encrypting the data at all times and restricting access to decryption keys. Only authorized personnel should be able to view classified data in its unencrypted form. 

The Importance of Cybersecurity

What is Cybersecurity by Juliana De Groot - the body of technologies, processes, and practices designed to protect networks, devices, programs, and data from attack, damage, or unauthorized access. Cyber security may also be referred to as information technology security.