Tech Insider: Five Tech Tools for Protecting Digital Data
This is the first installment of the Tech Insider. Each week we will investigate new technology tools that professionals and small business owners can use to increase productivity, security, and stay innovative in this Web 2.0 world. These days business information is conducted, stored, and created online more than ever before. Some people go through great lengths to keep that data secure, doing everything from purchasing expensive anti virus software to avoiding the internet entirely, thereby missing out on innovative ways to stay competitive in a digital world. Keeping your data protected from corruption and your identity guarded from unauthorized use may require more common sense and less cryptic technology. Here are five things you need to do to decrease the likelihood that your proprietary business transactions won’t be violated.
This is the first installment of the Tech Insider. Each week we will investigate new technology tools that professionals and small business owners can use to increase productivity, security, and stay innovative in this Web 2.0 world. These days business information is conducted, stored, and created online more than ever before. Some people go through great lengths to keep that data secure, doing everything from purchasing expensive anti virus software to avoiding the internet entirely, thereby missing out on innovative ways to stay competitive in a digital world. Keeping your data protected from corruption and your identity guarded from unauthorized use may require more common sense and less cryptic technology. Here are five things you need to do to decrease the likelihood that your proprietary business transactions won’t be violated. more
Lock your computer – If you share a computer with coworkers, employees, or even family, you should lock your user profile whenever you walk away from the machine. Locking your computer will prevent others from accessing private data. Create a password for yourself in Microsoft Windows by visiting user accounts in the “control panel†and “system preferences†then Accounts on Apple computers. Later, simply press the ctrl, alt, delete keys to bring up the security screen when you are ready to lock the computer.more
Protect your password – Every time you register on a Web site you are required to create a password. Do not use readily available biographical information as a password, says Cathy Avgiris, senior vice president and general manager of communications and data services at Comcast. In other words, avoid using your birth date, birth city, mother’s maiden name, or any information that can be found in public records. Also don’t use the same password everywhere. Not every site you visit, will actually keep your password safe, and once someone discovers it, all of your information is up for grabs.more
Outsource your storage – Data loss can ruin a business and there are plenty of ways that it could happen. You can lose your flash drive, break or scratch a CD, or even just forget where it is saved on your hard drive. Consider saving your data in a cloud-based storage system like Mozy.com or Carbonite.com or remotely access your data using GoToMyPC.com. As long as you have an internet connection you can access your files from any place, including on your smart phone. In addition, you can tag your files with keywords so that they are easier to find.more
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Erase your garbage - Before you trash your old computer erase your hard drive. Pressing delete, isn’t good enough, because the files are still there even if they aren’t readily visible to you. There are plenty of free or inexpensive software, like Boot and Nuke or Secure Erase, created by University of California in San Diego, which will help you completely wipe out all of your proprietary data. For more information visit:Better Business Bureau and Security Made Simpler, Comcast Security,TechWatch, Tech Tools for Entrepreneurs,more