Data Breach is a Nightmare Event. The Ways How You Can Safeguard Your Personal Data Online

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From the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal to major incidents at Google, 2026 proved to be another year marked by significant data breaches.

The constant fear of losing personal data to hackers continues to affect us all. As we become more digitally connected, the frequency of data breaches is only expected to rise.

If that hasn’t raised your concerns yet, consider this: your email account often serves as the gateway to numerous services, including financial platforms, bank accounts, credit card details, and more.

Passwords

One of the most common passwords worldwide remains “password1234”. Your password should be strong and unique enough that even close family members couldn’t guess it.

We recommend combining uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, along with personal references only you would understand. For example, if you were born at Hinduja Hospital, a password could be derived from the phrase “I was born in Hinduja Hospital” and turned into an acronym such as “!WB!Hh”, with a meaningful year added for extra strength. You can create and store such passwords in a digital password manager.

Using the same password across all services is risky. After all, would you use a single key for every lock you own?

Pankit Desai, Co-founder and CEO of Sequretek, notes that when breaches are analyzed by sector, e-commerce sites often face more attacks than banking apps, yet weaker platforms remain the most vulnerable entry points.

“When a data breach occurs on one site, hackers obtain usernames and passwords that they can then test across other platforms in an attempt to steal personal information and commit fraud,” he explained.

Enable two-step verification whenever signing in from a new device to add an extra layer of protection.

Mobile Number

Most online registration processes require a mobile number and email for verification. Mandar Agashe, Founder and Vice-Chairman of Sarvatra Technologies, advises using email addresses rather than mobile numbers to receive one-time passwords (OTPs). This approach adds an additional layer of digital security.

Phishing Emails

How many of us have received messages claiming that a distant relative in Africa wants to share their fortune? While tempting, such claims are almost always fraudulent.

Desai points out that phishing remains one of the simplest yet most effective methods used to target unsuspecting users. Avoid sharing personal information in emails promising free gifts, million-dollar lotteries, or quiz participation.

“Always verify the sender’s authenticity. In one of our internal tests, we sent phishing emails within an organization. The results were surprising: 25% of recipients clicked the malicious link, and 11% replied to claim their supposed free gift,” he noted.

Update Your Operating System

Although updates can feel inconvenient, they are essential for maintaining security. Farrhad Acidwalla, founder of Rockstah Media and CYBERNETIC DIGITAL, emphasizes their importance.

“A widespread Bluetooth vulnerability recently made headlines, prompting manufacturers to release fixes. If your device wasn’t updated, you could have been exposed to risks such as unauthorized access to communications between your devices,” he warned, adding a practical tip: “Keep Bluetooth turned off when not in use.”

App Permissions

Whenever you install a new app, it typically requests access to your contacts, messages, gallery, and other data. Review these requests carefully and grant permissions only when truly necessary for the app’s functionality.

“These details are highly personal. Granting unrestricted access can lead to misuse of your information. It is advisable to disable unnecessary permissions in app and phone settings to enhance your data protection,” Agashe recommended.

Social Media Footprint

Sharing your location every time you dine out or post a photo can provide useful data for profiling. Reduce your social media footprint by limiting audience visibility through account settings. This simple step helps protect your privacy.

Always review the privacy and security policies of the platforms you use so you understand what you are agreeing to.

Also read: Native advertising best practices – 11 ways to do it right

Enjoy Your Coffee and Free Wi-Fi?

Many users overlook how free Wi-Fi networks operate and prioritize convenience over security. Acidwalla explains: “Public Wi-Fi hotspots are frequent targets for cyberattacks because they often lack up-to-date encryption standards, allowing malicious actors to intercept user data.”

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