Tag Archives: cyber awareness

What you share online may be revealed to others

Every year we celebrate Data Privacy Day by thinking about what we post online, what methods we use to connect, and the security of the devices we use.

Data Privacy Day

Data Privacy Day  (DPD) is an international effort held annually on January 28 to create awareness about the importance of privacy and protecting personal information. Avast knows that security these days means more than protection against viruses. Online threats put your security and personal data at risk. You not only have to protect your desktop PC, but also your mobile devices. Your privacy can be violated by the apps you use, and bad guys can even invade your home through your home router.  

Fortunately, these threats can be managed when you take the advice of Data Privacy Day: 

STOP. THINK. CONNECT.

Here’s some tips and solutions from Avast to help you manage all the privacy needs on your devices.

Share with care

Think about the consequences of what you post online, especially in social networks. Think about what others could learn about you and who might see your posts in the future ‒ teachers, parents, colleges, and potential employers.

career ending

What you post can last a lifetime, so choose wisely what you share publicly.

 

Own your online presence: Set the privacy and security settings on web services and devices to your comfort level for information sharing. It’s ok to limit how and with whom you share information.

Want to view or change your privacy/security settings, but don’t know where to find them? Use the direct links gathered for DPD to update your privacy settings on popular devices and online services.

Stay CyberAware while on the go

Don’t count on public Wi-Fi networks and hotspots to be safe; anyone could potentially see what you are doing on your mobile device while you are connected. Avast Wi-Fi Finder locates safe and reliable connections in your area.

If no secured networks are to be found, then you can connect using Avast’s virtual private network (VPN) app called Avast SecureLine VPN. It encrypts your connect to prevent hackers from stealing your data via public/open Wi-Fi hotspot networks.

Personal information is like money. Value it. Protect it.

Protect your PC or Mac. Bank account numbers, passwords, photos, messages and emails – all of them need some form of protection to stay out of the wrong hands. One of the easiest steps to take is to get strong protection like Avast Antivirus. Avast does what you would expect – detects and blocks viruses and malware, but it has a unique feature called Home Network Security which strengthens your home network by scanning your home router for vulnerabilities.

Protect your mobile devices. Much of your life is on your mobile devices – banking information, private messages, and photos. Protect all your data with Avast Mobile Security, free from Google Play.

Protect your passwords. The best tip: Avoid using easy-to-crack passwords like 123456 or password. We know when you have an average of 19 passwords to remember that that advice can be a bit difficult. Avast Passwords  for PC, iOS, and Android automatically generates extremely strong passwords that you don’t have to struggle to remember! All you do is set and remember one master password to access all your passwords across your devices.

Data Privacy Day might be celebrated on January 28, but the principles need to be practiced everyday so you can make sure your privacy is protected around-the-clock. Here at Avast, we strive to give you the tools to do that. Please share these tips and Avast solutions with the important people in your life.