Data Detox: How to Amp Up Your Digital Security
Minimize your digital footprint and maximize your mobile security.
Video by Alexandr Ivanets / Stocksy
Monster data breaches, privacy bugs and leaked passwords. Cue panic mode. Digital security is usually one of those things that takes a back seat in our minds until we see those triggering headlines (or, gulp, experience a threat firsthand). Rest assured, you don’t have to live your life avoiding email sign-ups or covering your phone’s camera—unless that’s your thing. Here are some pointers for keeping a low profile online with safe surfing habits.
Cover your tracks
Have you ever browsed online and decided to purchase something later, only to find that item appear in your news feed? Well, let this sneaky—yet genius—marketing ploy remind you that your internet searches aren’t exactly under wraps. Aside from regularly clearing your browser’s history, cookies (bits of data websites use for tracking purposes) and cached (junk) files, try using the incognito browser mode. This private browsing feature resets your cookies at the end of each session, which means your personal data and previous searches will be wiped clean as soon as you close that window. There are more than a few times this comes in handy, say, if you want to log in and check your emails on a public computer.
Steer clear of suspicious sources
Spotty signal at home? It may be tempting to hop onto your neighborhood coffeehouse’s wireless network, especially if it doesn’t require a passcode. But the dangers of free and public Wi-Fi can outweigh the convenience. Because an unsecured Wi-Fi connection doesn’t utilize security encryption, any personal info you use across the web (like logins, your home address and banking details) can be exposed. The same applies when you enter sensitive details when using unauthorized apps. Be sure to connect to secured public networks whenever possible and stick to downloads from your phone’s official app store. Don’t forget to install your phone’s regular OS and security updates, which fix vulnerabilities in your device and protect your personal data.
Look for clues
Most of the time, your email service will be smart enough to filter out suspicious (or phishing) emails from your inbox – but there are plenty that slip through the cracks. Before you click that link or open any attachments, read the whole email carefully. Look out for any attempts from the sender to trick you into visiting a site or providing personal information or money. Even if the sender's email address seems legit and looks like it's from a social media platform, brand or institution you use regularly, it’s better to visit the website directly or draft a new email to a confirmed address to ask about it. This includes those from your trusted address book. For all you know, your friend's account could've been hacked. So, brush up on some common phishing scams and red flags through your research online and report any questionable emails to the authorities.
Before you click that link or open any attachments, read the whole email carefully.
Do the detective work… on yourself
Sometimes you have to put yourself in a hacker’s shoes. Regularly Googling yourself will give you a bird’s eye view of your digital footprint (essentially any public info that affects your online reputation). No matter how solid your reputation is in real life, you may find a few things in the search results that could paint you differently or expose more than you’d want revealed. Whether it’s your home address, estimated net worth, or a list of read articles (yikes), contact the site’s administrator to take down any personal information you wish to delete. You can also look into online companies that offer this cleanup service to save you some time and peace of mind.
Erase the evidence
Just as you would use a paper shredder to run through snail mail before throwing it away, the same applies for your digital files. Unfortunately, all "deleted" files can be restored quite easily. Mobile security apps can make sure any files you thought you got rid of are impossible for others to recover. And as for emails, you can either hit “trash” or “delete permanently” through your email service, so choose wisely.
Defense-grade security.
Protect what matters to you.
We all have our secrets. You can trust that yours are safe on devices like the Galaxy S20 series. Through their Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanners—paired with a data protection platform like Knox as an added shield—you can tap to unlock the sensitive stuff with your fingerprint alone, no password memorization required.
Galaxy S20
Samsung Knox
