The 3 Big Questions of Digital Security

I know there are many definitions of the word resilience. For me personally it is very simple:

Especially in an all-digital age, resilience has never been more important. And most of us already know this. But most of us don't care. We don't care because

Nothing has ever really happened to us, or
because we simply don't have time to take action, or
because we don't really know what to do or where to start.

I can't really help with the first two. But for the last part, maybe I can give you a hint as to why you should care. To keep it simple, let's start with three basic questions you should ask yourself about anything that really matters to you in your digital life: whether it's email, your notes, your to-do list, etc.

Disclaimer: Please note, this is a super brief overview of critical considerations you should make as a private individual to protect your digital "assets". For more comprehensive guidance, please check out the great tutorials and articles on Medium related to digital privacy and security.

Tip to Get Started: Start small. Don't try to tackle everything at once. Today, back up your to-do list to the cloud. Tomorrow, set up two-factor authentication on your email. Little by little, you'll build a strong defense without feeling overwhelmed. This is how I approach big tasks—breaking them down keeps me motivated because I've already begun!

Question #1: What If I Lose Access to My Data?

Imagine this: You're trying to log into your email to check an important message, but you can't remember your password. You try different variations, but nothing works. Or maybe you've lost your phone and can't access your accounts that rely on it. Frustration sets in.

Losing access to your accounts—like email, banking, or social media—can be more than frustrating. It can cut you off from work, friends, family, and even your money. Sometimes, you might get locked out because you've forgotten your password, lost your login info, or changed devices and can't authenticate.

What You Can Do:

• Keep Recovery Options Updated:
  • Email and Phone Number: Make sure your recovery email address and phone number are current. This helps you reset passwords when you forget them.
  • Security Questions: Choose questions and answers that are memorable but not easy for others to guess.
• Use Password Managers:
  • Why: They securely store your passwords so you don't have to remember them all.
  • How: Tools like LastPass or Bitwarden can generate and save complex passwords for you.
• Have Backup Access Methods:
  • Backup Codes: Save backup codes provided by services when you set up two-factor authentication (2FA). Keep them in a safe place.
  • Alternative Authentication: Set up multiple ways to verify your identity, like an authentication app and a phone number.

Think of recovery options like spare keys to your house. If you ever lock yourself out, you know where to find a spare to get back in. Keeping your recovery info updated is just as important—it's your way back into your digital home.

Question #2. What If I Lose My Data?

Imagine your laptop suddenly crashes and won't turn back on. All your photos, documents, and music—gone in an instant.

Our devices can fail, get lost, or even be stolen. If you haven't backed up your data, you risk losing precious memories and important files forever.

What You Can Do:

• Back Up Your Data Regularly:
  • Cloud Backups: Use services like Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox to automatically save your files online.
  • External Hard Drives: Copy your important files to an external drive every so often. Keep it in a safe place.
• Sync your data across devices: If you use a cloud-based app on different devices, it becomes slightly easier to recover from accidental loss.
• Automate It:
  • Set Up Automatic Backups: So you don't have to remember to do it manually.
• Check Your Backups:
  • Restore a File Occasionally: Make sure your backups are working by testing them.

Think of backups like photocopies of important documents. If the original gets lost or damaged, you have a spare. Cloud backups are like keeping a copy in a safety deposit box—you can get to it from anywhere, even if your device is gone.

Question #3. What If Someone Else Gets Access to My Data?

Imagine You leave your phone in a taxi. It's unlocked, and now a stranger has access to your emails, photos, and apps.

If someone else gets their hands on your data, it could lead to identity theft, financial loss, or just plain embarrassment.

What You Can Do:

• Lock Your Devices:
  • Use a PIN, Password, or Biometric Lock: Secure your phone and computer so only you can access them.
• Use Encryption for Sensitive Data:
  • Encrypt Important Files or Folders: So even if someone gets them, they can't read them without the encryption key.
• Be Careful on Public Wi-Fi:
  • Avoid Accessing Sensitive Info: Unless you're on a secure network or using a VPN.
• Stay Alert for Phishing:
  • Don't Click on Suspicious Links: Be cautious with emails or messages that seem off.

To make these three essential questions easy to remember, think of the acronym RAD:

1. Recovery – What if I lose access to my data?
2. Access – What if someone else gets access to my data?
3. Defense – What if I lose my data?

Maybe this all sounds logical, but maybe a bit overwhelming?

The hard part is actually doing something about it, I know. But again, here is how you can hack your brain into actually doing something you should be doing: Start small and improve gradually.

Even if you just add 2FA to your Amazon account today, you are already better than you were yesterday!