8 Tips For Maintaining Digital Security

Digital security is becoming increasingly crucial in the era of digitization, especially with a variety of online activities such as social media and email communications.

Indonesia, according to the National Cyber Security Index 2022, is ranked 83 out of 160 countries, signaling the country’s vulnerability to digital attacks, including malware, information leaks, and Trojans.

What does Digital Security mean?

Digital security is a measure of protection against online identities, data, and digital assets such as photos, passwords, and pin numbers. Although often confused with cybersecurity, digital security is broader and encompasses the protection of all aspects of Information Technology and networks.

Digital security protects digital data and information such as documents, images, video, and audio.

Cybersecurity, on the other hand, protects all aspects of security related to Information Technology and networks from Internet threats

However, digital security and cyber security are equally important in protecting digital information.

This is the type of digital information that is often targeted by cybercriminals:

  • Personal identity Data: photos, phone numbers, addresses, email accounts and passwords, Social Security numbers, etc.
  • financial: credit card number, debit card number, PIN code, etc.
  • Health Data: medical history, medication prescriptions, insurance number, etc.

Benefits of digital security for personal and business:

  1. Reduce The Risk Of Data Theft
  2. Maintain Online Transaction Security
  3. Avoiding Financial Losses

Tips to maintain digital security:

  1. Use a secure Internet connection (Wi-Fi)
    Always make sure to use a secure internet or wifi connection so that your digital information cannot be accessed by people using the same wifi. In fact, some free wifi can also harbor malware that can potentially harm your device.

Features of secure wifi include :

  • must use a password
  • the presence of a security sign in the form of a padlock icon on the network icon
  • implementation of encryption through security protocols such as WPA2 or WPA3.

It is important to choose an internet or wifi connection that meets these criteria to avoid the risk of free wifi and potential digital security threats.

  1. Create strong and unique passwords
    First, create a strong and unique password to protect your digital security.

Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid personal information and do not use the same password for multiple accounts.

For convenience, consider using a password manager such as NordPass, 1Password, or RoboForm.

  1. Change Password regularly
    Don’t forget to change your account password regularly. This reduces the risk of hacking attempts or theft of your personal data.

So if your password is leaked, it doesn’t really matter because you always change it regularly.

  1. Be sure to enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
    as an additional security measure. 2FA is a method that introduces a double verification process when accessing an account, making it more difficult for the party who has your password or PIN to enter, as it requires an additional method.
  2. Avoid clicking links carelessly
    especially if requested by a third party. Keep in mind, links from third sources may redirect you to malicious sites or harmful traps. Before clicking, make sure that the sender is trustworthy by checking the URL and email address of the sender to ensure authenticity. This helps prevent the risk of harm, including potential manipulation through social engineering aimed at obtaining your personal data.
  3. Check The Credibility Of The Website
    Before entering personal data. Make sure the website has SSL, check its reputation, read user reviews, and research the Information Policy and contact information of the website Owner.
  4. Protect Your Device With Antivirus
    Installing the best antivirus is an effective measure to protect the digital security of your device. Thus, your device will avoid the risk of viruses, malware, and various other fraudulent attempts.

Antivirus not only detects, but also prevents attacks when threats try to infiltrate your device.

  1. Keep Your Software Regularly Updated
    After installing the antivirus, be sure to regularly update the entire software installed on your device. Without updates, the software can have loopholes exploited by cybercriminals.

It is therefore advisable to always use the latest version of the software, as this usually also includes an improvement in the security system.