Personal Encryption: Tips and Tools for Securing Your Data
With so much digital penetration in current times, our personal data has never been so vulnerable. The reason is that almost everything has moved online. For instance, every banking process, educational needs, shopping, etc. has shifted online.
Due to this, you have uploaded several personal information about you on their server. For example, if you are purchasing something from Amazon, you upload your address and banking details. These details get saved up in their server and could be easily breached if there is no encryption.
Not only shopping websites, but messaging apps like WhatsApp also use encryption to keep your messages unreadable and inaccessible. A fun thing about encryption is that according to ExpressVPN’s blog piece, encryption has transitioned from a tool primarily used in military and government contexts to a widespread method for ensuring online security. That said, let us take you a ride around personal encryption and some tips and tools for securing your data.
Basic Principles of Encryption
Encryption is a technique that is used to keep your data and information private to yourself. Encryption technology converts your plain data into a combination of several random letters and characters that will surely have no meaning. One example of encryption is here:
| Plain Text | Encrypted Text |
| Hello | SNifgNi+uk0_djsnfa |
This is how your text gets encrypted and almost unreadable. This is how even if your network is hacked by someone, the hacker would not be able to read your messages. These messages can only be read by the sender or receiver.
This graph shows the percentage of organizations compromised by at least one successful attack.
Why Personal Encryption Matters?
As mentioned earlier, with the heavy digital penetration of technology in our lifestyle, our personal information has been more vulnerable than ever. From your banking details like account number, SSN, SVV, or various other codes, to your sensitive content like photos, videos, media, email, messages, etc. can end up in the wrong hands.
You never know when these personal memories can turn into your biggest nightmare. Therefore, keep your data encrypted and safe.
Encrypting Your Devices
The biggest risk for your personal information is smartphones and laptops. It is harsh but true. Your devices carry the most insightful details than anything else. This is why it gets so significant to encrypt your devices so that the data does not get compromised.
Luckily, in order to encrypt your Android or iOS devices, the process is pretty straightforward and streamlined. Speaking of computers (irrespective of Windows, Mac, or Linux), they have built-in programs like FireVault and BitLocker to keep your records safe.
Securing Your Online Communications
Online communications are another decisive factor that needs to be highly secure. Applications like WhatsApp and Signal stand at the front when speaking of the safest online communication options. Both applications employ end-to-end encryption for their users. Currently, as of this moment (November 2023), there are more than 2.7 billion active users on WhatsApp.
Whereas, Signal enjoys a comparatively much smaller user base of 40 million active monthly users. But that does not mean that it is not safe. It has more than 100 million Android devices and more than 105 million total user downloads as of May 2021. Signal spends around $2.8 million per year on bandwidth.
DID YOU KNOW?
During the Quarantine of the year 2021, Elon Musk got into a beef with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and advised people on the internet to ditch WhatsApp and shift to Signal instead.
Encrypting Your Files and Data
If you use a computer or laptop for your data storage needs, it becomes a must for you to use tools like BitLocker and FileVault. FileVault enables the encryption of the entire system drive, thereby ensuring that all data is protected. FileVault is used on Mac devices whereas BitLocker is used on Windows devices.
Whereas BitLocker takes the complete responsibility of encrypting your data at a single destination. It covers your data with an extra layer of security which makes your information almost impossible to steal.
Encryption and Social Media
Social media is another aspect that should provide data encryption. Popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. offer their own high-level security arrangements. You must make sure that whatever platform you are using for communicating with people around the world, should respect your digital safety and privacy.
Moreover, you should stay cautious as well. Prior to believing or relying on the safety policies of an application, you yourself should be mature enough to share things responsibly over the internet.
Staying Updated With Encryption Technology
Technology never remains static. There are always some advancements and updates that get introduced in a certain period of time. The same goes for encryption. You should keep yourself updated with the latest technology going on in the world and stay curious about their advancements. Also, try to implement those practices in your daily life that strengthen your privacy.
Common Myths and Misconceptions About Encryption
Encryption is not rocket science or something that only hackers and experts can deal with. Surely, it is a pretty sophisticated and advanced area of tech, getting your data encrypted is equally decisive and noteworthy. Even a common man like you and I can get their information encrypted.
Conclusion
Encryption makes your data unreadable to any 3rd person who is trying to get access to your data without your permission. With encryption, only the sender and receiver can access the real message behind the code.
