Following recent news events, it’s reasonable that you’re concerned about your data.
On Tuesday, the UK’s elections watchdog reported that it had been the target of a “complex cyber-attack” that might have affected millions of voters.
Personal information on police officers in Northern Ireland was also mistakenly released.
But what can you do if you suspect your data has been compromised, and how can you avoid problems?
How Secure Is My Information?
In general, when responding to Freedom of Information requests. Public bodies such as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) should erase any identifiable data.
However, in this case, the force accidentally publicized personal information. Leaving several officers and their families concerned about their safety.
However, the normal individual who is harmed by a data breach or attack should not be alarmed.
Concerning the cyber-attack on UK voters, the Electoral Commission has apologized to anyone who has been impacted. But notes on its website that the data it stores is “limited, and much of it is already in the public domain.”
“According to the risk assessment used by the Information Commissioner’s Office [the data regulator] to assess the harm of data breaches. Personal data held on electoral registers, typically name and address, does not in and of itself present a high risk to individuals,” the report said.
This information might be coupled with other pieces of information about you. Such as what you publish on social media, to identify you – but this takes a long time, and cyber thieves will often target notable persons like this.
And, unless you have opted out of being listed on the open electoral register. Much of this information is already public.
whether you are concerned about a separate data breach and are afraid that your information may have been compromised. There are websites that can tell you whether your email address was included in a known data breach.
The Electoral Commission particularly advises individuals to check this using the free internet site Have I Been Pwned (sic).
What Can I Do to Protect My Data?
If you feel your password to an account has been hacked, you should update it.
However, you should be cautious not to reply to any emails advocating this. As they may be attempting to con you; instead, go to the website as usual and reset your password there.
This is also why it is critical to have unique passwords for each account.
A future attack is less likely to damage you significantly if you continually use new login credentials. Since the hackers will not be able to utilize your data beyond accessing a single service you used.
Another thing people may do is to be cautious online to avoid data loss.
According to recent Barclays data released on Wednesday. 87% of all frauds occur on internet platforms such as dating apps, social media, and online marketplaces.
Protect My ata
It claims that these frauds are on the rise and that tech platforms should bear some of the blame.
“Without the collaborative assistance of tech organisations, the government, and regulators, we risk enabling the unchecked growth of what is now the most common crime in the UK, harming countless individuals and costing our economy billions of dollars each year,” said Barclays CEO Matt Hammerstein.
“Our research shows that technology platforms, particularly social media, are now the source of nearly all scams.” However, unlike banks, there is no present statutory or regulatory framework requiring the IT industry to promote the prevention of these crimes.”
However, there are a few easy actions you can take to keep secure online, which can help safeguard your data – and your pocketbook.
These include using a secure password for each website you visit, avoiding emails from strangers, and exercising caution while browsing new websites.
Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting hub for fraud and cybercrime, has a longer list.
for more information about cyber security contact LadiTech.
+1 (613) 416 7874
+90 (212) 900 9094
