It is crucial to secure your digital files, such as photos and financial records, as they hold significant importance. Merely putting a password on your laptop or a passcode on your phone is not enough. It is recommended to take additional security precautions to ensure that your files are well protected. Implementing these measures is not difficult, and it is advisable to set them up to keep your high-priority files safe and secure. These security measures can be configured in just a few minutes, and you may benefit from them in the future. They provide an extra layer of protection and ensure that only you can access your sensitive data.
Hide photos and videos
Google Photos has a locked folder. Google Photos and Apple Photos for Android and iOS allow you to hide photos and videos that you don’t want others to see. This feature ensures that a specific section of your media gallery remains hidden from anyone who gains access to your device, whether it’s someone you know or a stranger. To hide photos or videos in Google Photos on Android, select a file by pressing and holding it, then choose any additional files you want to move. Tap “Move to Locked Folder” in the menu below and, if you are using the locked folder for the first time, you will be required to unlock your phone before the files can be transferred. To access the locked folder, use the same unlocking method you use to access your device and go to Utilities under the Library tab.
In Apple Photos on iOS, you can hide photos and videos by selecting them in the library tab and tapping the Select button. Then, tap the three dots in the lower right corner and select Hide, followed by confirming the action. To access the hidden files, go to the Albums section and select Hidden. You will be required to use the same unlock method as you use to access your device (such as Face ID or Touch ID) to open the hidden folder.
Some of the efficient tips for improving the security of video conference
Password protect documents
Adding password protection to your important files is an additional security measure that can prevent unauthorized access, especially if you frequently share files across different devices and with different people. The process of password protection may vary depending on the programs you use. In Microsoft Word or Excel for Windows, for instance, you can encrypt your files with a password by choosing the “Protect Document” option under the “Info” menu. Apple’s Pages and Numbers applications offer a similar feature, where you can set a password by selecting “Set Password” under the “File” menu.
It is important to select a password that you can remember because if you forget it, you won’t be able to access your files. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, if you’re using desktop applications on a Mac that has Touch ID, you can use your fingerprint to authenticate yourself instead of entering a password.
VeraCrypt can do your encrypting for you
USB flash drives are still useful for transferring files between computers or giving them to someone else. Encrypting the data on the drive by locking it with a password makes it inaccessible to anyone without that password. Although Windows and macOS have built-in encryption options, they are not easy to use, and Windows requires the Pro enterprise version. A better option is to use the free and open-source software VeraCrypt.
To encrypt a USB flash drive using VeraCrypt on Windows or macOS, you need to create a volume by selecting the “Encrypt a non-system partition/drive” option in the VeraCrypt software. Then, follow the step-by-step process provided by the software to complete the encryption process.
Set expiry dates on links
Cloud storage services are commonly used to share files and folders among different computers and users. To enhance the security of shared files and folders, some cloud storage services allow password protection. Another useful security feature is setting an expiration date for shared links. This feature ensures that the shared links have a limited life span, and after the specified time period, anyone who clicks on the link will not be able to access the shared files. It is a simple yet important security measure to ensure that shared data remains secure and protected.
Cloud storage services
OneDrive provide the option to set expiration dates on shared links, which is an additional security measure to keep your data safe. By turning on the Expiry option in the sharing dialog box of Dropbox, for example, you can set a specific date on which the link will expire. OneDrive offers similar functionality, where you can set an expiration date when selecting a contact under Manage access. This feature ensures that shared files and folders are not accessible beyond the specified time frame, providing an added layer of digital security.
Cover your tracks
It is important to regularly empty the Recycle Bin on Windows to ensure that deleted files are permanently removed from the system. When deleting files, it is also recommended to use the Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Option+Delete (macOS) shortcut to bypass the Recycle Bin or Trash folder. For Windows users, the length of time that files stay in the Recycle Bin can be adjusted in the Storage Sense settings. On macOS, the Trash folder can be set to automatically empty after a certain period of time by adjusting the Advanced settings in Finder.
To take your file deletion security to the next level, you can consider automatically erasing other files based on their age. However, it is crucial to exercise caution while doing so to ensure that you don’t delete any necessary data. BitRaser File Eraser is a tool that can be used on both Windows and macOS to wipe specific folders on a schedule, thereby ensuring that no data is left behind.
