Tips on how to protect yourself against hackers

Experts: hacking is a growing problem

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) —  Over 300 million people use iCloud, and millions more use other data storing systems.  With numbers like that it’s easy to feel like you’re not at risk, but hacking is only becoming a bigger problem, said Mohamed Elhindi, the Chief Information Officer at UW-La Crosse.

Elhindi says following a few steps can make the difference between being a target and being safe.

1. Create a strong password.

“Use a phrase, something that has a mix of capital letters, lowercase letters, and punctuation,” said Elhindi. “Use something that is not personal to you such as your kids name or your dog’s name.”

2. Use multiple passwords.

“Don’t use the same password for every system, make sure to use different passwords for different things,” said Elhindi.

3. Keep your account up-to-date and delete out dated documents.

“Develop a data retention system, and don’t save tax reports that are years old,” said Elhindi. “Toss old documents with important information on them.”

Make sure to be aware of what you’re deleting. Deleting a photo from a device does not mean it has been deleted from your online storage account. Photos that you thought were deleted could be on other accounts. Remember to delete photos from all of the places they appear if you want to delete them permanently.

Also, check the fine print on data storing sites before opening an account, some sites will claim that they have the rights to your information once you’ve uploaded it, said Elhindi.