Online Privacy: Is there any?
3 Tips That May Help
You have probably been hearing a lot in the news lately about some big social media sites being mined for data without the users' permission. It's definitely a thing, and if you think about it, this is one instance to which we have become aware. How many breaches have there been that we have not been told of? Plenty. But should you be paranoid? Not necessarily, but caution is the order of the day.
The internet is wide open (for now) and data posted to it can potentially be accessed by anyone. Sure, there are privacy settings and notices from different companies on how they keep our data safe, at the same time they admit sharing some "things" with subsidiaries and other business entities. And these Privacy Notices change on the fly and have very little to do with privacy, in my opinion.
Yet, we all do not have the luxury of disconnecting and rushing away to an off-grid cabin in the Rockies. And I don't think that is necessary. The internet, cloud computing, email, and social media have changed the fabric of society, but it's important to be mindful. Here are three tips that will go a long way to help:
Have Good, Strong & Varied Passwords
I talk about this a lot, and you are probably sick of hearing me say it. Well, like a broken record, here I go again. Do not use the same password for everything. It's easy for you, but it's easy for the bad guys to crack. Once they have one, they have it all! Vary your passwords with mixes of numbers, letters, and symbols. Write them down. I don't care how. You are not supposed to remember them, just have a spreadsheet, password manager, or a QR tattoo on your wrist that unlocks another secret code that gets you to your passwords. There are points for creativity. Having secure and varied passwords helps keep your accounts safe. Also, I highly recommend using two-factor authentication when available and practical.
Think Before You Post
Before posting a picture or message on-line, take a moment and think. Back at the company I used to work for, I drilled into my employees the idea of taking a breath and thinking before sending an email. The same can be said for posting a picture, comment, or review on a site. Do you want other people to see this? Once it's out there, it's out there forever. It's impossible to remove everything from the internet.
Say No to Peer Pressure
And this can be pressure from kids and grandkids, too. You do not have to use a site or service that you are not comfortable with. Period. It goes back to your mother using the "everyone jumping off the bridge" analogy. Many people get sucked into different social media sites because their friends are on it, or it's a way to keep in touch. Remember there is always the phone and email (#oldschool).
Please, take this all with a grain of salt. I do not believe that paranoia is the correct reaction to any of this. It's just about being cautious, thoughtful, and deliberate in your approach to online society so that it works for you.
|
|
Your Automatic Backup Isn't
Understand Care & Feeding
Whether it is Time Machine, the iCloud Backup for your iOS device, or a cloud backup, you have to keep an eye on them and their progress. They are only automatic when they are working. Each requires attention.
In the case of Time Machine, it's an easy process to go into System Preferences to see when it has backed up. Plus, the drive needs to be attached to the machine, and in the case of a laptop, the lid has to be open and plugged into power.
On your iPhone or iPad, if you are taking advantage of iCloud Backup (and you should) going into your iCloud settings in Settings, you can then drill down to Backup to check on the status, or even force a backup. iOS Backups only happen if the device is on wi-fi and plugged into power.
Third party cloud backups are all different. Some will give you a report, but all can be checked on to see how they are progressing. Cloud backups usually take longer than Time Machine, so keeping the machine on, awake, and plugged into power is critical.
|
|
It's Phishing Season!
It's Delicious to be Suspicious
There have been a rash of phishing emails popping up, spoofing Apple, Google, and maybe even your own email. It's alarming, but phishing and spoofing will happen and we don't have control to stop it. Fortunately there are things that you can do to keep yourself safe:
Never Click on a Link
I never click on any links in an email, even if I am 100% sure it is real. If I get something from my bank, I go to my bank's website directly. If I get a security alert from Google, I go to Google in my web browser, log in, and check that way. Not clicking on links is the best way to protect yourself.
Mark it as Spam/Junk
Marking an email as Junk or Spam helps your email provider understand what type of nefarious messages that are being sent to their users. Each provider handles this process differently, but if you mark it as Spam/Junk it will hopefully cut down on getting similar messages, at least in the short term.
Passwords... Again, I know
Sorry, but it has to be said: Good passwords help keep your account safe. If you suspect your account may have been compromised, changing the password is one of the best things that you can do.
|
