To
help better illustrate the importance of online safety and security,
Microsoft recently released the results of its 2013 Microsoft Computer
Safety Index study. The survey tracked safety behavior of nearly 10,500
people worldwide to get a handle on just how costly these digital
threats can be, and to make recommendations on how to better protect
against online danger. The bottom line: An estimated $23 billion was
lost last year to online risks such as phishing, ID theft, viruses, data
leaks and more. The biggest cost – and arguably, the biggest threat –
was damage to professional reputation to the tune of $4.5 billion
yearly. Don’t let the bad guys take their cut from your personal bank
account. Here are 6 steps you can take to better protect yourself from
danger. 1. Take Charge of Your Online Reputation How, exactly, can
damage to your online reputation be so costly? Ask Anthony Weiner, the
former New York congressman whose bid for NYC mayor was sunk
by compromising selfies he texted to women. In all seriousness,
Microsoft survey data reveals that the median amount respondents paid
out to repair their professional reputation was $2,600. Naturally, the
best way to protect your reputation is to watch what you say online and
put your best foot forward. If you need a little bit of help, check out
these tools for protecting your online reputation. You might also want
to consider using a reputation-monitoring service like Persona. 2.
Defend your Devices Think about all the sensitive information stored on
your mobile phone. Some people store private contacts. Others keep
online banking data on our phones or use their phones as mobile wallets.
A small percentage of Americans even have naked selfies saved. But
while there’s plenty to be stolen on our phones, Microsoft’s survey
reveals that only 33% use a PIN to lock our mobile devices. Even fewer
of us (21%) use mobile security apps. That suggests a lot of sensitive
data is at risk should a snoop decide to play around with our phones.
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