Top Tips On Staying Safe In The Cloud

Is cloud computing secure?

How risky is Cloud Computing?

I remember from my  High school teacher saying, “ignorance is bliss” this is only fair when it comes to staying safe online.  It’s therefore important as a web user to stay alert and beware on goings around you.  Take for instance this cloud computing thing that people are running towards.  Is it safe? Is it secure? Actually…what is it?

You probably are already using cloud computing on a daily basis without your knowledge. It is cloud computing that powers webmail like Yahoo and Gmail, blogs, social networking sites, online gaming, productivity tools like Google Docs and even online backup and storage.

For  example, when you log-in to your Gmail account from your Smartphone, it will instantly bring up your entire inbox of messages no matter where in the world you are. And when you sync your iPhone with the Apple Store, you will be able to access your apps, music and photos from iCloud.

The Risks

Cybercrime is big business and the bad guys are past masters at defrauding and extorting money out of innocent victims. There is a thriving online black market where stolen user data is bought and sold. It therefore calls for you to be alert and follow simple rules to keep these people away from you.

Top tips for staying safe

Although the big service providers like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft are playing their part in ensuring your data is safe, you on the other hand need to play your part well.

Here are a few tips to enable you stay safe:

• Use complex passwords and don’t share passwords between different online accounts in case one is compromised. Or if you have better IT knowledge try the Trend Micro™DirectPass, a solution that will securely manage all your passwords.
• You can as well consider a secure online back-up service that will keep your data safe in the cloud; in the event your laptop or phone is lost or stolen at least you will have a standing point.
• You should always stay alert when on social networks. Be careful when clicking certain links, even if they appear to have come from a friend.
• Never open attachments or click on links on emails before verifying the source of the email first. Only download mobile apps from official app stores and I advice that you consider downloading a mobile security client.  Suggestion - Use Trend Micro’s free security for Android or iPhone to block links to bad apps and the sites that host them.
• Keep your Personal Computer  protected with a cloud-based security with the capability of blocking threats before they even hit your machine.  Suggestion:  If you don’t have a cloud-based security, you can download Titanium for PC, or Safe Surfing for Mac, free here.

Soure:  Trend Micro Fearless Web Internet Security on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fearlessweb.