10 Tips For Keeping Your Data Safe

Protecting personal data—credit card info, bank account information, social security numbers, private documents—is important, now more than ever. And as the digital revolution takes a hold on our daily lives and we become more immersed in the Internet, it is paramount that we put up safeguards to shield our personal data from hackers and viruses. Here, we offer 10 Tips For Keeping Your Data Safe.

The number one defense against computer bugs is anti-virus and anti-malware software. Detect threats and keep all unexpected system operations at a minimum with programs like Norton, Panda Security, McAfee, and Symantec Endpoint Protection. With computer viruses, malicious BHOs, spyware, and worms constantly a threat to your desktop or laptop, installing anti-virus and anti-malware software should be a number one priority.

For an extra layer of protection on your computer, use a firewall. As the good people at Geek Squad put it: "Various software companies offer firewall protection, but hardware-based firewalls, like those frequently built into network routers, provide a better level of security." These guys typically know what they're talking about, too.

We get it, it can be hard to memorize four or five different passwords at a time, but it's essential in protecting your personal information on the web. And no, "password1" is not a good safeguard for your online banking account.

By keeping in line with regular updates--whether to your browser, iTunes, OS X, etc--you'll steer clear of security wormholes easily exploited by viruses. Next time you see an update button appear on your screen, don't ignore it.

HootSuite and Tweetdeck are great social aggregators to use while online. As we become bombarded with more and more platforms and social media sites, aggregators are an easy and helpful way of not only keeping information in one handy place, but securing it as well.

Yes, it's best to keep work and personal matters separate, but in the digital age, it might be best to keep work, personal, and online activity as far away from each other as possible. If you're online frequently, creating a new email for all your social interactions on the web may be your best bet. After all, you don't want your work email flooded with spam every hour.

This tip applies mostly to rabid online shoppers. If you're constantly copping items on Amazon, clothes off SupremeNewYork.com or gadgets from Apple.com, then it's always best to err on the side of caution by deleting stored information that probably shouldn't be on the web at any given time. What if the site was comprimised in some way? You definitely don't want your personal info up for grabs.

A general rule of thumb: If you see the red warning sign, stay away! Attack sites steal personal information and harm computer functionality with damaging software--often without your knowledge until well after you've visited the site. So, yeah, stay away from the questionable x-rated site.

Privacy expert and founder of Sgrouples, an all-in-one social media dashboard, Mark Weinstein offers some great advice when it comes to better managing your online activity. "A little awareness goes a long way, and there are some pretty painless fixes to many privacy issues," he told Inc.com, suggesting a program such as Abine, which helps block against web tracking. If you don't want Twitter or Facebook to know what site you visit once you logout, Abine can help with that. Or, as CNET notes: DoNotTrackMe's "benefit isn't just that it blocks trackers, but that it keeps the social Web active while protecting you."

This one seems like a no brainier, but many have fallen victim to the infamous "Nigerian scam." Some sage advice: Do not open or respond to an email from a foreign businessman, dignitary, or investor looking to acquire your personal and bank information. We hate to break it to you, but you won't be inheriting $15 million anytime soon. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.