Cases of data leaks are rampant lately. Here's how to secure users' personal data.
Along with the increasingly massive use of internet services in today's digital era, many platforms ask for our personal data, such as our full name, address, date of birth, phone number, occupation, personal photos, and other sensitive data.
ITSEC Asia, one of the information security service providers in Asia Pacific explained that it is important for all owners and developers of applications and websites to have high standards of information technology data security.
This is to close security gaps that can be exploited by irresponsible parties.
"As a result of the spread of personal data, we need to be aware of various abuses such as fraud through various media, namely email, SMS, WhatsApp and telephone; sales of data for marketing purposes that cause inconvenience, and various misuses of information data for various purposes," said President Director of ITSEC Asia Andri Hutama Putra in a press release.
The following are ITSEC Asia's tips for the public to secure personal data so that data leakage does not occur:
Wise in receiving information, it is not easy to confirm information via telephone or incoming messages. Even though he already owns and knows our data including medical or health records, it is not a guarantee that it is not a fraud, always verify. Examples: making credit cards, promo offers, or insurance.
Change your email password and PIN to access important data and applications regularly, for a maximum of 3 months.
Use OTP (One Time Password) or 2FA (Two Factor Authentication)
Be careful in using e-mail, do not open suspicious e-mails or links, and use e-mail wisely.
Uninstall unused applications. Selecting applications that are on our devices, and deleting applications that we do not use, especially those that are not active / not updated.
Start educating family and friends regarding how important it is to maintain data and be wise in exchanging information with any party.
Andri further revealed that parties who hold personal data, whether from the private sector or the government, need to be more active in preventive and corrective action plans to address alleged leaks of personal data on sites or applications.
Andri also said that there was a need for responsibility from related parties to provide notifications and education to users affected by data leaks.
So that people can anticipate the risk of greater losses, for example by changing passwords or pins, being more careful when receiving emails, SMS, or telephones that can be misused because the data has been leaked.
"Every day there are 3-5 new security holes published, with this fact all application owners and developers must pay more attention to the security system by means of periodic security tests (penetration tests) to minimize new security holes, improve internal capabilities in the People aspect, Process & Technology (PPT), and also cooperates with reliable companies in the field of IT security to improve security for important site security," he concluded.
