How to Protect Yourself from Data Breaches: 12 Best Practices

No individual or company is secure from online data breaches!

And there are tons of data breaches happening every single day and some of the news don’t get to be in the spotlight. 

The magnitude of online data breaches and scams are serious and scary. 

Last month in August, a popular hacking group hacked an online company that offers background checks, and it exposed almost 3 billion individual records. 

In 2024, over 35.9 billion records have been breached in 9,478 publicly disclosed incidents globally.

The frequency and amount of illegal access to personal information have risen due to weak passwords and human errors.

The present situation highlights the importance of proactive private data protection.

What can you do to protect personal data? 

What Is a Data Breach?

A data breach often refers to an event involving security that results in data getting stolen or made available to unwanted parties. 

It might sometimes be accidental, but attackers seeking personal information for crimes such as identity fraud could also purposefully use it. 

Data breaches may occur almost anywhere, from big companies to small businesses and even to an individual's details.

How Do Data Breaches Occur?

Data breaches occur when unauthorized individuals access sensitive information, which can happen in a variety of methods. The most common methods by which data breaches happen are as follows:

Human Error

Human errors, including suffering from scams, changing security settings incorrectly, and accidentally sharing sensitive information, are the primary causes of many breaches. Cybercriminals may then take advantage of these to cause accidental data releases.

Another massive data breach at Experian. Everyone’s Social Security Numbers and private info was exposed. Just received the notice? pic.twitter.com/V4U6GMd5Uy

— Miranda (@Miranda_030506) August 31, 2024

Weak Passwords

Many breaches use weak or stolen passwords. Cybercriminals rarely use brute force attacks or credential stuffing to compromise accounts with weak or reused passwords.

Don't store passwords in plain text. Anyone that has access to the program, the database, etc will be able to see the password that is stored.

This is a huge security vulnerability that puts everyone at risk just because they use your application.

Hash + salt your passwords! pic.twitter.com/udnWyBhC19

— Danny Thompson (@DThompsonDev) August 24, 2022

Software Vulnerabilities 

Outdated software and unpatched systems provide opportunities for attackers. Cybercriminals use these vulnerabilities to breach networks and obtain sensitive data. 

Software vulnerabilities: Cybercriminals can easily exploit weaknesses in software, which can lead to various consequences, including a data breach. This is why keeping all software up to date—and deploying the latest security patches—is essential to data breach prevention.

— brarno882 (@brarno882) June 1, 2024

Malware and Ransomware

These malicious applications can infect systems, encrypt files, or steal data. Ransomware attacks have also become common; they lock organizations out of their data until a ransom is paid.

Insider Threats

This protected information may be sought through negligence or malicious behavior from employees or contractors with access authority. Insider threats are hard to detect since they may already possess permission to access critical data.

Social Engineering

Cybercriminals can use social engineering techniques, such as phishing or fraud, to manipulate people into disclosing sensitive information or providing system access through impersonation. These approaches make use of human psychology rather than technological ones.

Third-Party Risks

If an organization outsources parts of its services to third-party suppliers, a breach may be accidentally enabled by a lack of appropriate security measures. Illegal access to sensitive data is one of the consequences of a third-party service provider security breach.

Lack of Encryption

Unencrypted data, whether it rests or travels across networks, becomes more susceptible to interception and theft.

12 Best Practices for Preventing Data Breaches on Your Own

Employee Education

Training should be provided regularly to enhance knowledge of security threats, such as setting strong passwords and recognizing phishing efforts. Employee education is critical since it may be the first defense against a security intrusion.

Develop and Update Procedures

Establish clear data security policies that are updated regularly. This will assist different staff members in understanding their roles in handling data and access restrictions, fostering a security-conscious culture inside the firm. 

Implement Strong Password 

Enforce complex passwords and regular password changes. Strong passwords are required to prevent unwanted access to sensitive data.

Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to identify themselves, which increases the need for additional verification forms before accessing sensitive information. Finally, even if the password is obtained, attackers will need help to get access. 

Encrypt Sensitive Data

Encrypt data in transit and at rest to prevent unwanted access. This is especially crucial when sharing sensitive data via networks.

Regular Data Backups

Backup systems may automatically save essential data securely, which can be recovered if a breach occurs. Perform frequent testing to confirm that your data restoration procedure is working correctly.

Limit Access and Monitor the Same

It allows access to sensitive data following the least privilege principle, which states that workers should only get data as needed for their duties. To prevent unwanted access, frequently check and confirm the access permissions.

Physical Data Security

Devices and records are stored in secure locations that are only accessible by authorized individuals, which prevents physical data theft. 

Implement Robust Security Software

Firewalls, antivirus, and anti-spyware programs should be installed and updated on systems. Given the continual evolution of threats, these tools require frequent upgrades.

Consult Security Experts

Consider working with providers or employing cybersecurity experts to strengthen your security procedures. Their knowledge might help you locate weak points and successfully implement best practices. 

Conduct Regular Security Audits

Assess your safety record regularly to find vulnerabilities and ensure security policy compliance. Taking a proactive approach addresses possible vulnerabilities before they may be exploited.

Incident Response Plan

To ensure the company is prepared for a data breach, regularly create and test an incident response strategy. The plan should specify how to react in the event of a violation.

Protect Yourself from Internet Threats & Breaches

PurePrivacy is a privacy solution that protects your data from scammers and hackers, allowing you to stay safe online:

• Dark Web Monitoring: Monitor the dark web for personally identifying information.
• Tracker Blocker: Prevent data gathering and internet monitoring.
• Remove My Data: Automate data opt-out requests to multiple data brokers.
• Social Privacy Manager: Enhance your privacy on popular social networking sites.

24/7 Monitoring and Alerts for the Dark Web

Stay informed with continuous dark web monitoring and instant alerts for stolen data.

Stop the Trackers to Protect Your Privacy

Prevent websites and third-party trackers from collecting your browsing history. 

Send Automated Opt-out Requests 

Automatically sends opt-out requests to 200+ data brokers, saving you time and effort.

Enhance Your Social Network Privacy Level

Enhance your online security by optimizing privacy settings on social networks.

In Conclusion

To avoid being a target victim of identity fraud and financial scams, you should check your credit card statements often and track your credit report. 

Being aware of your entire financial situation can highlight fraudulent online activities before the damage is done. 
Reduce your risk of data breaches by taking easy precautions like using strong passwords, updating your software, and protecting your online activities with PurePrivacy with a VPN.