Monday, July 6, 2009

How to Saveguard Our Personal and Financial Data?

Some people think that financial security only relate to a well-refunded retirement plan, a good health insurance or the sufficiency of income to meet their expenses. However, the meaning of financial security brings us to further than that. Today, financial security is also means protecting your privacy and knowing that you are safeguarded against crimes that could rob your money, your good credit rating and even your identity.

As science has spawned new and exciting technologies, from online shopping to mobile payment, it has opened up new opportunities for frauds and swindles, from computer hacking to identity theft. Every year, consumers and financial institutions lose millions of dollars to credit cards and debit card theft by unauthorized users pretending to be legitimate users of the cards. It may not possible to stop this fraudulent activity entirely, but it is possible to protect your personal and financial data by taking proper safeguard.

To safeguard your personal and financial data, you SHOULD always:
  • Install a firewall - This is a software program that blocks unauthorized users to access your data. Majority of the new computers come up with firewalls integrated into their operating systems. Unless you are using a older computer or dial up, in such case, you may need to buy a firewall separately and install it by yourself. Click this link for more understanding on firewalls.
  • Install and update antispyware and antivirus programs - Protecting your data against viruses and Trojan Horses that may steal or modify your data on your own computer. Besides, many operating offer automatic updates, you should turn it on as it is available for you.
  • Lock your access - Use a strong password or pass-phrase to protect access your confidential data.
  • Limit transportation and transmission of data - Avoid transporting or transmitting your confidential data if not necessary to do so. For instance, transport your confidential data via email.
  • Avoid accessing financial information in public - Refrain logging to check your bank balance when you are using the wireless access that offered by the coffee shops.
  • Encrypt stored confidential data - Whenever is possible, encrypt stored confidential data, no matter it is stored temporarily or permanently.

In order to protect your privacy now and ever, you should aware the latest fraudulent activity exists and take accurate and consistent prevention against it. It then can lessen dramatically the opportunities of your confidential data being stolen.

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