PulseTech: 3 Steps to Avoid a Hack on Campus

With open-access campus Wi-Fi, an abundance of personal devices are exposed to security risks around every corner. Getting hacked is a matter of when, not if, for most college students.
DriveSavers Data Recovery prepared this list of tips for securing personal devices and avoiding hacks on campus.

1. Use a password manager. There’s nothing like college to double ~ or even triple ~ the number of passwords you’ll have. It’s practically impossible to remember all the passwords you use when logging into various websites, which is why many people use the same password for many different websites. While it’s convenient to use a single password, it defeats the purpose of having them. The best option, besides keeping a printed copy locked in a safe deposit box, is to use a password manager such as 1Password or LastPass.

2. Encrypt sensitive data. The risk of theft on campus may be substantial, but encrypting data can protect you from an unwanted breach of security or privacy should your device become stolen. If you aren’t sure where to get started, Lifehacker has a list of the five best file encryption tools, and ~ bonus! ~ they’re all free.

3. Back up data regularly. No matter how busy you are, protecting your data, such as photos, essays and research papers, is imperative. Make backups easier by automating the process with software. For added protection, use the triple-redundant method: Back up locally to a hard drive or other media; back up to a secondary local device and take the media offsite; back up across a network to a server or online backup service. For added protection, encrypt your backups, too.

For more information and data recovery, visit DriveSavers Data Recovery at drivesaversdatarecovery.com.

Originally published by The Pulse: http://thepulsemag.com/wordpress/2014/01/pulsetech-3-steps-to-avoid-a-hack-on-campus