Whether it is a home computer or the computers that run your business, having to worry about data breaches on a regular basis is not the way one wants to live their life.

That said cyber-criminals are definitely on the prowl, with no end in sight to their activities.

So, are you prepared as much as you can be to not let a data breach shut you down?

If not, there are steps you can take to greatly decrease the odds you will be their next victim.

Educate Yourself on Internet Protection

So that you and your small business (whether you own it or are an employee) are both protected, keep the following pointers in mind:

• Preparedness – Having a firewall between you and cyber-criminals is your first and best line of defense. You can opt for something like ITPBureau ID protection reviews or another such provider to keep attackers at arm’s length. When searching for such providers, be sure to review their history, what products and services they offer, how good of a customer service record they put out there, and if their prices seem reasonable, including not throwing in a lot of add-on fees;

• Commonsense – Just about everyone has a lapse in judgment on occasion, but such gaffes in the tech world can cause you and/or the business you’re with a lot of problems. From financial headaches to customer service issues, suffering a cyber-attack can prove all but devastating in many cases. For starters, never put sensitive personal or customer information out on a computer unless you know your server is as well protected as can be. Your server provider should make security their top priority, so don’t settle for anything less when choosing such a company. Part of your commonsense approach also means being careful with the kind of comments you make online, especially in social media settings (see more below). If you are careless when it comes to your approach on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. a cyber-criminal can jump on that in a heartbeat. Along with financial details, do not divulge on social media that you are away from your home or the business you may own for an extended period of time. Such details can be used against you not only by those in the identity theft business, but also burglars and robbers looking for an opportunity to break into a residence or office when they suspect no one is around;

• Social etiquette – There are different rules that come with being on social media, one of which is not saying too much about you. For example, say you own a small business (by yourself) and you are taking a well-earned vacation. Letting the social world know about this is asking for trouble. You could also leave your home up for trouble if some online (who should not know) know where you reside. Wait until after you return from a trip to post those amazing vacation pictures, not while you are a long distance (see more below) from your home and/or office;

• Travel smartly for business – Even though many businesses these days are trying to cut down or altogether eliminate business travel in order to save money, it still proves a necessity for many companies. As a result, workers (even the boss) sometimes must go on the road for days at a time. When this happens, they’re likely to take their laptops and other devices with them in order to do work away from the central office. It is important when this happens to make sure that the servers one works off of are as secure as possible. If one is going to be using the Internet to discuss company financials and other pertinent business details, you don’t want to be working on the Internet at some hotel where the connection may be compromised etc. In a worst-case scenario, save the sensitive information discussions until you return to the office.

Given all the positives the Internet has to offer businesses and consumers for that matter, using it the right way is always something not to be taken for granted.

Always remember, loose lips sinks ships, but the ship that goes down doesn’t have to be you and your personal information.