Do you frequently consider the security of your data?
Cybercrime now comes in different forms, and one of the most rampant is data manipulation fraud.
So you must know how to protect yourself from being a victim of this fraud.
What Is Data Manipulation Fraud?
Prices have been changed, product descriptions have been modified, and even entire products have been deleted.
Data manipulation fraud is not an innocent or simple mistake.
Image Credit: Olesya Kuznetsova/Shutterstock
It is also not to be confused withdata breachesthat only involve unauthorized data access and no alteration.
Why Do People Engage in Data Manipulation?
As serious of a crime as data manipulation is, people still engage in it.
Reasons vary from theft to sheer maliciousness.
Most occurrences of data manipulation fraud are by malicious entities seeking to wreak havoc on a business' integrity.
Sometimes, people engage in data manipulation for financial gain.
Image Credit: Olesya Kuznetsova/Shutterstock
How Can You Avoid Being a Victim of Data Manipulation?
Like other cybercrime, there are steps you’re able to take to avoid becoming a data-manipulation victim.
Use Protective Software
Some software can detect and prevent unauthorized access to your systems.
These range from powerful antivirus software tointrusion detection systems.
This is especially useful when several people have access to editing or inputting more values into the database.
Encrypt Your Sensitive Data
Encryption helps to minimize unauthorized access.
Using strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and regularly changing them ensures your data is handled correctly.
It also helps to back up the data regularly, especially before and after updates.
This way, you’ve got the option to spot even minimal changes to the data.
Just ensure you store the backups in a secure location.
Another method is using digital signatures, whichadd a secure digital signature to each piece of data.
This signature is constructed using a private key and verified using a corresponding public key.
If there is any data tampering, the signature will no longer match, detecting foul play.
With the myriad of available monitoring software, you don’t have to do it manually.
This saves you from having to do laborious, error-riddled work.
All you have to do is regularly review system activity logs to detect any unusual behavior.
You should also be trained on data security and access management protocols, even on a fundamental level.
If you have employees, educate your employees on data security and the importance of protecting sensitive information.
This goes a long way to reduce the likelihood of facing either internal or external threats.
How Can You Avoid Being Accused of Data Manipulation?
Don’t be entangled in what might resemble data manipulation.
Cautiousness is crucial when dealing with data.
Maintaining transparency and being cautious when working with data is also essential.
