Extracting personal information is one of the main agendas behind cyberattacks. Hackers use various malicious techniques to get into business networks and gain access to sensitive information. The abundance of technology, gadgets, and cloud infrastructure has helped firms enhance their digital operations. However, they have also made businesses more prone to cyberattacks. Most people are not aware of how personal information is stored in the digital space and how you leave digital footprints unknowingly. In one of their articles, Thomson Reuters shares how you can safeguard your sensitive information online.
Laws That Protect Your Personal Information
Here are five privacy laws that you should know about:
- The Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC) 1914 focuses on unethical and fraudulent commercial practices.
- Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) 1986 protects various wire, oral, and electronic communications from unlawful interception and usage.
- Computer Fraud & Abuse Act (CFAA) 1986 monitors illegal computer-based activities that include unauthorized access to personal information unlawfully.
- Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) 1998 demands several websites and online service providers get verifiable parental consent before gathering information from kids below thirteen years of age.
- Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act (CAN-SPAM Act) 2003 prohibits misleading header information.
Why It Concerns You
Many people register their personal information, such as banking passwords, physical addresses, etc., online. Although the websites you shared the information with could be legitimate, they are an easy target for hackers.
How to Protect Your Personal Information
Here are some tips to safeguard your personal details:
- Install the updated version of the anti-virus software on your computer system. Use secure and authentic web browsers, and scan every file before downloading it.
- Select the feature of automatically deleting cookies every time you finish surfing the internet.
- If you have a website, you can request private WHOIS listening from the database manager.
- Implement SSL on your web browser if you are hosting a website. It will help you prevent direct network threats.
- Be aware of your cloud provider’s security policies, and ensure they encrypt your data.
Click on the link to read the original article: https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/en/insights/articles/how-your-personal-information-is-protected-online
