We must increase security by using complex passwords and cybersecurity software to protect our financial and social accounts. What about data stored locally on computers?
Protecting your documents, photos, and videos is essential. For safety, some of us keep our cryptocurrency keys offline. There are also critical files that allow the software to run. These are the best ways to protect your local computer data.
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Backup your data regularly.
Regularly create offline and cloud-based online backups. Although it may seem time-consuming, it is worth the effort to protect your most important files. Use an external drive for offline backups.
Make sure your data is encrypted.
Encrypted hard drives and encryption software are recommended as encryption renders files unreadable to anyone who does not have an encryption key. To avoid tragedy and frustration, keep your encryption key safe.
Consider using SSDs.
Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), an older technology, use moving parts such as platters, spindles, and read/write arms. The moving parts can be damaged by dust and falls. Solid-State Drives are more expensive per gigabyte, but they are much more durable than other drives because they do not have moving parts. SSDs save data from being stored on platters. Instead, they store it on electronic chips.
Perform a virus scan on your computer.
Computer viruses can be very destructive because they spread quickly and target your data. Computer viruses inject their code into files and sometimes cause irreversible damage. However, viruses are not the only type of malware that can steal or destroy data. These are the more serious programs that you should avoid from your computer:
- Trojan horse malware
- Spyware
- Keyloggers
- Computer worms
- Ransomware
You should use a proactive virus scanner download to scan your computer for malware. Your computer's built-in antivirus does not provide sufficient protection against advanced malware. Windows 10 ransomware protection, for example, offers false positives and crashes software.
Get a rugged computer.
Drops, extreme temperatures, liquid spills, and dust can cause physical damage to your regular desktop or laptop. A rugged computer is waterproof and watertight and will provide serious data protection. A rugged PC is more durable and has fewer moving parts.
Use Air-Gapped Backups.
If ransomware attacks are a concern, air-gapped backup options can be used. Air-gapped backups are not connected to the Internet or any network. This is the primary difference between conventional backups and air-gapped. It will be difficult for a threat actor to corrupt these backups using file-locking malware.
Avoid opening phishing emails.
Although phishing emails might appear legit, they can be used as a way to spread malware, viruses, and worms. Phishing emails can trick you into opening malicious websites that use drive-by downloads to infect your computer. Be cautious with unknown email addresses and other messages from the Internet.
Final Thought
There are many ways to corrupt your local computer files. To avoid any headaches, make sure you have the right software and hardware.