How to Protect Personal Information Online

1. Regularly update software. Most software updates increase the security of your device. By staying on top of software updates you can make it more difficult to install malware on a piece of electronic equipment. 
2. Create strong, unique passwords. Use different, complex passwords for every site. Alongside this, enable two factor authentication. This means that a site will need a secondary way to ensure that it is really you attempting to login or change account information. 
3. Remain cautious with suspicious links, text messages, and emails. Many scammers send out false links or pretend to be someone they are not. If you are unsure who is messaging you, or something doesn’t feel right, don’t trust it. 
4. Review privacy settings. Various accounts can hold a lot of information about you. You are able to limit the amount of information displayed on your profiles and accounts. Check on them to ensure that your personal details are not available to anyone but you. 
5. Monitor personal accounts. Regularly check bank statements, online accounts, and credit reports for suspicious activity. Report any unauthorized transactions or posts immediately. 
6. Be selective about sharing. Keep details about yourself limited when creating online accounts. Think before posting photos of your home, school, important documents, and other identifying information. 
7. Use secure networks. Public Wi-Fi networks are not secure. When using them, do not access private information. If you need to regularly join public networks, using a VPN service can further protect your device. Protecting your personal Wi-Fi network with a unique password is also critical to your privacy.
8. Shop on reputable websites. Not all websites are secure. Before purchasing something online or giving away private information, check to ensure that the site is trusted. 

Businesses hold large amounts of data about their customers and employees, making them a target for scammers. There are protection measures that companies can put in place to protect this information, including training, policies, and increased security. Employee training is crucial to company privacy. Discuss with employees the importance of cybersecurity training for employees to raise awareness about common cyber threats, such as phishing attacks, malware, and social engineering. One way to reinforce this education is to send out test phishing emails to ensure that employees are not clicking on suspicious links and report suspicious activity properly. Creating a response sequence to handle security incidents is a critical aspect of planning your digital protection system. Provide guidance on creating incident response teams, defining roles and responsibilities, and implementing procedures for detecting, containing, and mitigating security incidents.

Before implementing a plan, explore the regulatory landscape governing data privacy and security, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and industry-specific regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Compliance with regulatory requirements is important, and the potential consequences of non-compliance can be great.