It is nearly impossible for a person to use the internet in any form, without putting their personal information at risk. At best, searching the web without adequate security measures can result in unwanted advertisements and spam emails, but at worst, this information can easily become the source of hacking and data leaks. By not updating their privacy laws in over three decades, Australia has become notorious for not keeping up to date with the rapidly evolving world of online privacy.
A new review of Australia’s privacy policy could have led to some positive changes, but the move fell stagnant rather quickly. There are moves to improve Australia’s privacy laws in the future, but cyber security is an immediate thing.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
One of the most effective forms of technology in protecting information is a virtual private network. These private networks allow users to access the internet on public wifi without the risk of their information being stolen. VPNs work by concealing a person’s IP address, and redirecting it through a remote server, allowing them to browse online with no risk of their data being breached.
Not only that, but the best VPNs in Australia also allow their users to bypass geographical restrictions by connecting them to a server in other locations across the globe, which enables a more liberated experience when using the web.
Data Removal Services
Although VPNs are an excellent way for an individual to protect their data going forward, they are not capable of removing what has already been shared and sold to third parties in the past. Such a feat may seem impossible, but this is not the case. Data removal services, such as Optery and Incogni do exactly as they suggest and sort through all a user’s information, finding who it has been sold to, and helping them to opt-out of having their information shared. They can even ensure that stored data is deleted from websites they are not wanted on.
There are many options for Australians looking to protect their information in this way, with different services offering a multitude of features and at different prices, meaning there is something available for every budget.
Password Managers
When using the internet, it can be easy to fall into the habit of recycling the same password over and over again, but with the ever-increasing risk of data leaks, this really isn’t advisable.
Password managers, such as Nordpass and 1password are a great way to ensure that passwords are complex enough to remain safe and secure, while also eradicating the risk of forgetting them and the need to write them down. Password managers store all of a person’s passwords in one place, and are only accessible to that individual.
Many of these managers also have additional security features such as helping to spot fake websites, so they are an effective and reliable tool when it comes to internet safety.
Authenticator Apps
Alongside password managers and two-step verification, it is suggested that individuals use authenticator apps when possible. These apps provide an additional level of security when it comes to keeping accounts and personal information secure.
Not only that but they also massively reduce the risk of sim-swapping attacks where malicious individuals or companies steal an individual’s phone number and transfer it to a device that they own.
Encrypted Messaging Services
It can be uncomfortable to consider that the information we put online is not private, especially when it comes to our own personal correspondences. However, encrypted messaging services such as Signa and WhatsApp, enable users to keep their private messages private, therefore providing valuable peace of mind to their users.
These services offer chats that are end-to-end encrypted meaning nobody, not even the developers of the app or website, are able to read the information written on them.
Secure Cloud Storage
Storing information, documents, or photos on the cloud can feel like a risky task, but there are many secure storage tools that make this much safer. Many of these tools provide zero-knowledge encryption as well as additional security benefits such as multi-factor authentication and data center hardening. There are multiple kinds of secure storage out there, all at different price ranges.
