Everyone has experienced losing data or files at some point. Having to replace essential data can be infuriating and is one of the biggest reasons your activities online should be kept safe. Most businesses have staff working online, and schools have online classes. Plus, communications and information are shared daily on social media.
While these are all benefits of advancement in technology we enjoy, people’s information is more exposed than ever, leaving them vulnerable to data and file theft. If you have valuable files stored in your computer and you’ll like to keep them private and secure, here are some simple tips to help you.
1. Declutter
Most people are procrastinators and tend to pile up tasks that they deem tedious or irrelevant. Keeping files in order is one of these tasks. One of the reasons you can lose a file online is the lack of disorganization and arrangement. Your files are all over the place, and you can hardly find what you’re looking for when you need them.
In this scenario, you can accidentally delete a valuable file you didn’t intend to delete. Take a few hours out of your busy day to organize your files and classify them according to type or need. If there are excess pages here and there you don’t need; then you can quickly delete PDF pages with tools like GogoPDF within minutes. All it would take is your time and effort.
GogoPDF enables you to perform functions in your PDF file such as conversion, merging PDF, and deleting excess pages. The site is easy to use, and you don’t need prior experience to edit your documents. All you have to do is upload the PDF file, select the pages you want to delete, wait for completion, and then download the file into your computer.
2. Protect Your Privacy
While working online, avoid clicking on links or emails from unverified sources. If you have a habit of clicking on every link about promos, giveaways, etc., on the internet, chances are you’ll be a victim of hackers at some point.
While they might not necessarily steal money from you, your privacy and data can be breached, meaning you stand the chance of losing important documents and files stored on your computer.
Do not give out any information about yourself over the internet. Be anonymous or turn on incognito mode if you have to go into fishy sites. You must protect your personal and private data.
As much as possible, avoid using public wifi in places like malls, train stations, or grocery stores, and these are unsecured and can leave you and your device exposed to breach.
3. Back-Up Your Files Regularly
Go the extra mile to make sure that your computer is backed up frequently. However, when working online, it is more than just a precaution. It is essential that you backup all your files because you never know when you will suffer from a computer crash.
Even though it is convenient to keep working online and accessing your files from one place, it is not worth losing them due to a lack of backup. Make sure that you store all your essential documents in multiple trusted locations. In case you are working online, you should back up your files at least every month. The good news is that most modern computers come with a built-in backup utility.
Some programs allow you to save a file on a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly basis. Backing up your files will also help you store all your essential data regularly, so you don’t have to spend time searching for these files when you need them.
A crash can wipe out all your essential data, and you will lose everything you have worked on so far. So, backing up your files can save you a lot of trouble in the future. It is also recommended that you keep a copy of all your files in different locations, including external drives.
4. Be Mindful of Your Activities Online
Many people use the Internet to connect with friends and family members. However, some use these mediums to carry out criminal activities, stealing data and personal information.
If you are working online, you are probably dealing with a lot of social networking sites. Do not click on the links with strange content, as some might have viruses or other harmful programs attached to them.
5. Use Different Passwords for Different Sites
If you are using the same password to open an account for all the websites you visit, there’s a possibility that hackers can breach your security and access your files. To avoid losing files, it is advisable to create a unique password for each website. If you use similar patterns of passwords for all your accounts, make sure you change them regularly.
6. Use a Reliable Antivirus Software and Update Regularly
If your computer is prone to exposure to viruses, you might risk losing your files. To keep your PC free of problems, it is advisable to update the antivirus software on your PC regularly. Update the software at least once a month and pay attention to the software’s security and performance. You can also use the built-in tool to scan your system for the latest threats.
Conclusion
Some other ideas for avoiding losing online file contents through these malicious downloads are deleting downloaded files online when you’re done consuming its content. The other is to install a firewall. You can buy free programs for under $40, which will scan your system for spyware and adware.
This is a good option if you want to protect your computer against malicious online content. However, it is not foolproof, and your Internet browser must be constantly maintained to ensure that everything is working correctly.
You might also be concerned about data theft through an online file transfer or transaction. Data theft can be a real problem if you store valuable information about yourself on an unsecured server. As long as you use a secure server to store your personal information, you are safe from data loss.
