Data security, data protection, password managers, encryption, and multi-factor authentication. They’re terms we read and hear a lot about, whether it’s to do with snooping by the NSA and GCHQ; whistleblowing by the likes of Edward Snowden; or multinationals being hacked and embarrassed on a global scale. Data security is an understandable concern for individuals, businesses and charities.

Following the iCloud hack in 2014, one of the positive outcomes was to focus the mainstream media’s attention on data security and who is responsible for protecting your data. Ultimately, the owner of the data (not the cloud-storage provider) is responsible. Our advice is:

• Password-protect all documents containing confidential information.

   

• Use a password manager to easily manage account passwords via a browser/smartphone. You only have to remember the password for the password manager. DO NOT forget it or you will have to reset your account and you will lose all saved passwords.

   

• Use multi-factor authentication [MFA] (aka two-factor authentication [2FA]; two-step verification [2SV]; two-step authentication [2SA]; and two-step verification [2SV]). Potential hackers must know something (password) and have something (e.g. mobile phone) to gain access to your account. We recommend Authy because it makes encrypted backups to the cloud, and has mobile & desktop apps.