Talk of banning TikTok in the US has died down since it was the big news story. However, regardless of your thoughts on that kind of online regulation, the reasoning behind it is still top of mind for cybersecurity experts. As we spend more and more time online, potential security issues only increase.
In 2020, we are facing threats from a number of angles. On the one hand, there is always the threat of viruses and hackers, intruders who actively work to get access to our devices. On the other, there is the newer threat of data mining, the frightening reality that we have all given up control of our data to social media sites and advertisers for free.
Unfortunately, many people have become desensitized to the possibility of data theft and are resigned to it happening. Instead of implementing stricter security measures, they just don’t bother.
But we can still protect ourselves from threats, whether they are attacking us directly or whether they are simply relying on us giving them our data. These are the mobile security measures you should take in 2020.
Get a VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) has, for a long time, been the bare minimum protection that every person should have on all their devices. A VPN hides your IP and encrypts your data. So, instead of opening yourself up to data theft every time you access the internet (i.e. all the time), you make it impossible to decipher that data even if it is stolen.
A VPN shouldn’t cost you more than $10 a month. At vpnpros.com you can find the best VPNs for mobile use. You particularly need a VPN when using public WiFi, downloading torrents, or trying to access uncensored news, but should ideally use one at all times.
Unlink your Facebook account
Most websites now give you the option of signing in for the first time with your Facebook account. Instead of manually entering your details and choosing a password, Facebook takes care of it. All you need is your Facebook account to get into all of your other accounts.
This is certainly convenient, but at the same time it is very careless. Hackers only need to hack one account to get access to them all. If you already have accounts linked to your Facebook account, it is a good idea to unlink them. You can find out which accounts are linked in your Facebook settings, and then go to the actual website so that you can create a new way of logging in.
Use strong passwords
Humans are not very good at creating passwords. We prefer to use passwords we already know by heart, or variations on them. Long, complex passwords are just way too difficult. But these days, browsers offer you the chance to use a generated strong password. And you should take advantage of this.
Yes, it is unnerving not to ever know the password to your account. However, as long as you have a strong but memorable password to get into your email account, you can click the forgot password link if need be. Also, you can connect your email account to your phone number, as an alternative way to gain entry.
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