Blog
Sunday, 28 January 2018
Today is International Data Privacy Day
The date was introduced in 2006 in the Council of Europe to raising people's awareness of the importance of privacy and promoting the protection of personal data.
At Lyme, we adopt processing practices and security measures to protect the user against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure or destruction of data, e-mail, password, information and personal transaction data stored on our site.
Lyme fulfills all the requirements to give you maximum security, protect your data, the passwords are encrypted like all the content of messages transacted through our platform.
However, if you do not pay attention to some precautions, you can be an easy target for viruses, malware and hackers that access your device and can have serious consequences. To combat this, Lyme presents you with 10 basic tips to ensure your safety.
1 - Activate the firewall of your computer
The firewall is like a kind of barrier between your equipment and the internet preventing others from accessing your device without your permission. There are several types of firewall, and in most cases the network is already protected by the firewall of your modem / router, however activating the firewall of your computer is an added value for the security of your data.
2- Do not open emails or links you do not know
We often receive emails from strangers or acquaintances but of a dubious nature that you should not open, much less follow links that may be contained in them. Many times these emails contain viruses or software that can seriously damage your computer.
3 - Keep your personal data safe
In case you have to fill out an application / registration form, please provide only your essential data and even omit the most sensitive ones. Only accept data through pages where encryption (padlock) is active in your browser.
4 - If you have children, activate parental control
Whether it's a PC or Mac, both already have default parental protection capabilities. Activate this option and limit your child's browsing abilities to prevent them from going to websites that are not appropriate for their age, or at worst to be cyberbullying victims. Keeping track of your actions on the computer is also a good practice.
5 - Make sure your Wi-Fi network is protected
It seems obvious but most people who hire an internet service never worry about the security settings of the equipment (router / modem) leaving the equipment with the factory settings. There are several reasons why you should check and be concerned with setting up your machine. It is not currently difficult for malicious individuals to seize your internet access and misuse your connection, and there are already schemes that circulate over the internet on how to improperly access your modem / router. So take these actions into account: enable the maximum security that the device allows (WPA2), set a custom password, rename your network, and finally hide your neighbors' network (disable SSID).
6 - Install an antivirus on all devices, including tablets and smartphones
Nowadays it is not only the computers must be protected, but also your tablet or smartphone, be it Android, Blackberry or iPhone... A good example is the theft of data regarding use, keywords as well as photos and videos personal effects that end up and others hands and consequently published on the net. Given that there are more and more security problems with this type of equipment, it is a priority to install the antivirus software in the versions for mobile equipments.
7 - Make software updates as soon as possible
There are very common software flaws in most recurring programs. When these faults are discovered their manufacturers send notifications to update them. Do not ignore these warnings! Although it is not a task to worry about all the time, keeping an equipment with the software out of date for very long periods of time may cause problems later.
8 - Make purchases on the net using virtual cards
Most credit companies already offer solutions to their customers so they can shop online safely. Whether they are short-lived virtual cards (MBNet), whether physical cards with reduced credit limits and other security schemes, or online payment means (Paypal), using one of these is always safer than use your usual credit card.
9 - Create unique and hard-to-guess keywords
If you want there are online keyword generators that allow you to create as many keywords as you want and with different levels of complexity. Two good examples are the Secure Password Generator and The Password Meter. Whatever your keywords never use situations like: personal information (own names or family names, date of birth, car registrations, phones, etc.), just numbers or just letters, numbers or sequential letters (eg, "123456" or "abcde").
10 - Avoid public networks, third-party networks or cyber cafes
Free Wi-Fi networks (eg cafes, terraces, hotels and airports) are sometimes managed by strangers that with malicious meanings can easily track your personal data. Also avoid using public computers (from universities, libraries, etc.), computers from your friends, neighbors or family members over whom you have no control. In both cases do not access the e-mail service, Messenger, Facebook, or others, where you need to enter the personal data. In case of force majeure, you replace the same data, as in the case of the password, when you use your personal computer again.
These simple actions may be enough to safeguard you from major problems in the future. If your data was alredy shared with companies and services there is always ways to revoke them. Get to know your rights and some of the most frequent questions posted by the Portuguese National Committee of Data Protection.
Send your messages safely through Lyme.
At Lyme, we adopt processing practices and security measures to protect the user against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure or destruction of data, e-mail, password, information and personal transaction data stored on our site.
Lyme fulfills all the requirements to give you maximum security, protect your data, the passwords are encrypted like all the content of messages transacted through our platform.
However, if you do not pay attention to some precautions, you can be an easy target for viruses, malware and hackers that access your device and can have serious consequences. To combat this, Lyme presents you with 10 basic tips to ensure your safety.
1 - Activate the firewall of your computer
The firewall is like a kind of barrier between your equipment and the internet preventing others from accessing your device without your permission. There are several types of firewall, and in most cases the network is already protected by the firewall of your modem / router, however activating the firewall of your computer is an added value for the security of your data.
2- Do not open emails or links you do not know
We often receive emails from strangers or acquaintances but of a dubious nature that you should not open, much less follow links that may be contained in them. Many times these emails contain viruses or software that can seriously damage your computer.
3 - Keep your personal data safe
In case you have to fill out an application / registration form, please provide only your essential data and even omit the most sensitive ones. Only accept data through pages where encryption (padlock) is active in your browser.
4 - If you have children, activate parental control
Whether it's a PC or Mac, both already have default parental protection capabilities. Activate this option and limit your child's browsing abilities to prevent them from going to websites that are not appropriate for their age, or at worst to be cyberbullying victims. Keeping track of your actions on the computer is also a good practice.
5 - Make sure your Wi-Fi network is protected
It seems obvious but most people who hire an internet service never worry about the security settings of the equipment (router / modem) leaving the equipment with the factory settings. There are several reasons why you should check and be concerned with setting up your machine. It is not currently difficult for malicious individuals to seize your internet access and misuse your connection, and there are already schemes that circulate over the internet on how to improperly access your modem / router. So take these actions into account: enable the maximum security that the device allows (WPA2), set a custom password, rename your network, and finally hide your neighbors' network (disable SSID).
6 - Install an antivirus on all devices, including tablets and smartphones
Nowadays it is not only the computers must be protected, but also your tablet or smartphone, be it Android, Blackberry or iPhone... A good example is the theft of data regarding use, keywords as well as photos and videos personal effects that end up and others hands and consequently published on the net. Given that there are more and more security problems with this type of equipment, it is a priority to install the antivirus software in the versions for mobile equipments.
7 - Make software updates as soon as possible
There are very common software flaws in most recurring programs. When these faults are discovered their manufacturers send notifications to update them. Do not ignore these warnings! Although it is not a task to worry about all the time, keeping an equipment with the software out of date for very long periods of time may cause problems later.
8 - Make purchases on the net using virtual cards
Most credit companies already offer solutions to their customers so they can shop online safely. Whether they are short-lived virtual cards (MBNet), whether physical cards with reduced credit limits and other security schemes, or online payment means (Paypal), using one of these is always safer than use your usual credit card.
9 - Create unique and hard-to-guess keywords
If you want there are online keyword generators that allow you to create as many keywords as you want and with different levels of complexity. Two good examples are the Secure Password Generator and The Password Meter. Whatever your keywords never use situations like: personal information (own names or family names, date of birth, car registrations, phones, etc.), just numbers or just letters, numbers or sequential letters (eg, "123456" or "abcde").
10 - Avoid public networks, third-party networks or cyber cafes
Free Wi-Fi networks (eg cafes, terraces, hotels and airports) are sometimes managed by strangers that with malicious meanings can easily track your personal data. Also avoid using public computers (from universities, libraries, etc.), computers from your friends, neighbors or family members over whom you have no control. In both cases do not access the e-mail service, Messenger, Facebook, or others, where you need to enter the personal data. In case of force majeure, you replace the same data, as in the case of the password, when you use your personal computer again.
These simple actions may be enough to safeguard you from major problems in the future. If your data was alredy shared with companies and services there is always ways to revoke them. Get to know your rights and some of the most frequent questions posted by the Portuguese National Committee of Data Protection.
Send your messages safely through Lyme.