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Written by TurnOnVPN
The most important invention in technology that set the ball rolling was the wheel. Following that, the steam engine was developed, all the way down to airplanes, to the early computer age, and here we are now, in the Information Age. Some might even argue that the Information Age is gradually phasing out and we are transitioning to the “Experience Age”. This school of thought is largely driven by pervasive computing and the digital identity that virtually every Internet user has.
The Role of Digital Identity in Business and Daily Life
This digital identity has enabled stakeholders and the firms who acquire this data make business decisions that benefit their firms and at the same time, provide maximum satisfaction for their customers. At a quick glance, one might love how these solutions predict correctly the kind of movie we like, restaurant to visit, music to listen to and so on.
Digging deep into how these predictions are formed, we find that these firms collect tons of data from us which we might consider intrusive. Aside this, we all run the risk of our data being stolen either through hacks or man-in-the-middle attacks. The damage that can be done if one’s data is stolen can be rather devastating and this is why data encryption is necessary.
Top 3 Ways to Encrypt Data
There are a lot of avenues by which data can be encrypted and they are outlined below:
1. Use in-built encryption on your device: Device manufacturers realize the risk they face if their products are susceptible to hacks so they provide several security offerings – one of which is device encryption. On the Mac device, locate the FIleVault option to encrypt your device, on Windows device, turn on BitLocker, on iPhone, enable passcode and on Android device, locate the “Encrypt Phone” option under Security.
2. Use VPN to encrypt web traffic: To avoid sensitive data being intercepted, especially over WiFi, install and use a VPN. A VPN encrypts network data as it leaves your system and travels over the network. This way, any malicious actor who intercepts the data will have information that will be useless to them.
3. Use Password Managers: Password managers save you the stress of having to remember all your passwords. They use a strong mix of alphanumeric characters and symbols to increase password strength. To top it up, most of them encrypt the passwords so they can’t be stolen. There are several password managers and vaults all over the web to choose from. Be sure to research the one you want to use and make sure it has been tested by others and it is safe.
Conclusion
Personal data should be guarded jealously as the prevalence of such information on the Internet could cause just as much damage as it does offer benefits. Utilizing resources like encryption features, VPN application and password managers can help encrypt data so they cannot be useful to malicious actors.