(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- With data scare stories still hounding people every day, it is important that consumers know how they behave over the Internet. When you think you are sharing information with just a select group of people it is actually visible to wider groups, including complete strangers, this is probably due to lax privacy settings.
Many social media, IT companies and experts worldwide are now running campaigns, spreading awareness and offering tips on data protection.
Facebook too in damage control mode is leading the campaign with its new Data Abuse Bounty programme.
Under the programme, Facebook will reward anyone who alerts it regarding apps collecting user information in cooperation with companies abusing that data.
Muscat Daily spoke to a few experts in the IT field regarding the issue to clear a few common queries that most Internet users have. Some use the Internet as a storage medium and feel they would be at a loss if they delete or stop using social media accounts.
According to Tariq al Barwani, an IT expert, 'The most easy way of safeguarding data for the common man on the Web is to ensure that you keep a copy of any important data (pictures, video and documents) somewhere else in your computer or hard-drive. A copy can be kept on your disk. This is important because once data is gone, it may be difficult to get it back if necessary protection is not in place. There are many backup solutions along with storages available online and offline today.'
Another common query that bugs users is about revealing information unknowingly. So how does one stay safe online?
Harish Chib, vice president, Middle East and Africa, Sophos, a security software and hardware company, said, 'The Internet and its social networks are driven and shaped by how we use them. However, like any technology, the Internet and the software that runs on it has plenty of bugs, and there is much that could be fixed or improved in the service of keeping people safe online. The first type of threat, information from users, is by far simpler – because it is all about an individual's direct actions. Revealing sensitive information on the Web is a big threat. This information can be made public both deliberately or, most commonly, inadvertently. This is often due to lax privacy settings.'
Social networking accounts are valuable to hackers, said Chib. 'Social networking attacks can be split into three main categories: Spam, phishing and malware. The end-goal for most hackers is to get personal data. Because personal data is money.'
He added never follow unsolicited links in emails or social networking sites - they can lead to bogus websites that capture any confidential data you enter and always use strong passwords. 'Think before using USB sticks.'
The value of personal data for private and public institutions as well as companies has increased in importance, which in turn strengthens the need to protect personal data and prevent acts of misuse or privacy violations.
This can be done only through the implementation of clear laws and legislation by concerned entities, said Scott Manson, cybersecurity leader - Middle East and Africa, Cisco. 'Cisco's Annual Cybersecurity Report indicates that there has been an increase in data breaches globally, so this is not unique to the Middle East. The escalating number of data breaches and advanced persistent threats, and the publicity around hacks are making users even less confident that their sensitive data and privacy will be protected.
'Look at some of the most recent data breaches including Equifax, Uber and Yahoo which opened up the possibility of attackers gaining access to personal data – and in theory being able to collate highly personal profiles of affected individuals.
'Every data breach and online attack seems to involve some kind of phishing attempt to steal password credentials, to launch fraudulent transactions, or to trick someone into downloading malware. And reports show that phishing campaigns have increased both in volume and sophistication.'
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