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You are here: Home / Archives for Data

The Importance of Data Privacy

security January 28th is Data Privacy Day! Data privacy is an issue that impacts just about everyone, whether you’re the CEO of a large company or simply someone who uses their phone and the internet like the average person.

We all want to protect our data, but it’s easy to become a victim of the dark web even when you think you’re doing everything right. Here are some tips on how to ensure no one is using your data for their own personal gain.

Use Strong Passwords

 Those same two passwords that you’ve been using for the last 10 years aren’t going to cut it. You need to create truly unique passwords that will be difficult for a hacker to figure out and exploit. Tools like Lastpass are an efficient and secure way to store all your passwords in one place. That way, you can create complicated and hard to figure out passwords for all of your accounts and not have to worry about writing them down somewhere to remember them.

Update Your Social Media Settings

We’re all guilty of oversharing on social media. Sites like Facebook and Instagram have a lot of information about us, and there are a lot of people who would love to get their hands on that data. Check the privacy settings on all of your social media accounts and make sure you aren’t sharing information with anyone that you don’t want to.

Avoid Being Tracked

Simply going to a website provides potential hackers with information about you and your web history. Using incognito mode isn’t going to do much to keep your web history private, so it’s important to use tools that can actually protect your privacy. A VPN connection is one way that you could prevent websites from tracking your location. Learn more about anti-tracking tools for your web browser here.

Backup Your Data

 Have you ever been in a situation where you lose your phone or your laptop and you forgot to back it up so you lose tons of valuable information? Backing up your devices can also help you if one of them is stolen or compromised. 68% of small businesses don’t have a disaster recovery plan. No one wants to imagine their business is vulnerable to something like this, but it’s better to plan ahead and be ready.

Utilize Anti-Malware Protection

 It’s essential for you or your business to utilize anti-malware protection. No matter how diligent you are about protecting your data, your device is likely to be infected at some point. A strong anti-virus protection program will go a long way towards avoiding a potential disaster.

Use Encrypted Email

A few email programs, like Gmail and Outlook, use encrypted email. But most others don’t. If you’re sending a confidential email that contains sensitive information, make sure you send it using an email provider that will keep your data secure and protected you from any unauthorized users.

Lock Down Your Data

 The new decade is sure to make users even more vulnerable to potential data hacks, which is why it’s more important than ever to stay ahead of the curve. SPARKS! is here to help with all of your website needs. Contact us today or give us a call at 410-244-5111.

 

Big Data: It's Not Big Brother

big data, data analytic conceptBig data. Two small words that, when combined, evoke sinister images. The fear of being spied upon. Communications monitored. Big Brother. The movie Minority Report.

But is it only that? Is big data used solely by governmental agencies for spying?
[Read more…]

Big Data: Why It's Not So Bad

Word Cloud With Big DataBig data. The phrase brings to mind NSA. People being spied upon. Telephones and emails monitored. Big Brother. The movie Minority Report? But is it only that? Is big data used solely by governmental agencies for spying?
[Read more…]

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Launchpad Blog

What Is Digital Marketing?

So, to answer a question we often get at SPARKS! - “what exactly is digital marketing?” – here’s a … MORE

Cyber Threats are Real – Prepare Yourself

Global Tensions Present Cyber Threats Across The Internet The White House has recently released a … MORE

What is SMiShing?

If you’ve never heard of SMS phishing, or SMiShing, you’re not alone. Most people aren’t aware of … MORE

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Seven years ago today - it seems like only yesterday! Happy SPARKS! Anniversary to our own Lauren Pierce! ... See MoreSee Less

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The best 7 years!

Happy #internationalwomensday! SPARKS! is proud to have a team and client-base that includes many strong, smart women who are changing their industries and communities one day at a time! ... See MoreSee Less

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Losing your iPhone could mean more than losing access to your cat video tweets. Your data & your money are at risk too. Evil-doers are targeting iPhone users - read how to better secure your devices.

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iPhone users targeted in phone AND data theft campaign

ow.ly

When is an iPhone theft not just an iPhone theft? When the user's Apple ID and more, goes with it.
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