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<ul><li><keyword id="201519" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="vpn" source="Orion">VPN</keyword> adds an extra layer of privacy for users, allowing users to access foreign websites and securely transfer sensitive business information.</li><li>In <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>, many cybersecurity companies providing VPN services have shut down their physical servers due to a government mandate to store users' personal data for five years.</li><li>Protect yourself online and stream without restriction with these VPN service providers.</li></ul>Virtual private networks (VPNs) add an extra layer of privacy for users, allowing users to access foreign websites and securely transfer sensitive business information. Business VPNs also offer features like managing multiple user accounts and blocking certain content to protect data. However, in India, many cybersecurity companies providing VPN services have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/nordvpn-to-shut-down-its-servers-in-india-by-june-26-2022/articleshow/92229519.cms#:~:text=On%20Tuesday%2C%20the%20company%20spokesperson,the%20shutdown%20within%20the%20app.">shut down</a> their physical servers due to a government mandate to store users' personal data for five years. VPN service providers were asked by the CERT-In, a part of the Indian Department of Information Technology, to store information like names, email IDs, contact numbers, and IP addresses. This decision has not been well-received by most VPN service providers, who argue that complying with the regulation would compromise the privacy they offer to Indian consumers. Nevertheless, VPN companies assure their Indian users that their operations will continue. They have announced plans to introduce virtual servers in countries like Singapore and London to ensure Indian users can still access their VPN services and secure their online activities despite the new data law. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is a VPN?" comment="subhead" text="What is a VPN?">What is a VPN?</cmsannotation> A VPN, or virtual private network, is a crucial tool for online privacy. It safeguards and conceals your internet activity by encrypting the data from your device and routing it through a secure server in a location of your choice. This allows you to appear to be accessing online services from that specific country or place, which can help unblock censored or restricted content like TikTok or the US Netflix library. But that's not all - because your data is encrypted, even the government won't be able to see what you're doing online, ensuring maximum privacy and security. While VPNs are legal in most countries worldwide, it's important to note that a few countries have restrictions or bans on their use, such as China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, Russia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. However, even in countries where VPNs are legal, it's crucial to remember that engaging in illegal activities like torrenting copyrighted material, buying prohibited goods, or hacking is still illegal, even if you're using a VPN. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How to choose the best India VPN?" comment="subhead" text="How to choose the best India VPN?">How to choose the best India VPN?</cmsannotation> Selecting the right <keyword id="13882790" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vpn-in-india" source="Orion">VPN in India</keyword> can take time due to the many available providers. It's essential to conduct thorough research before buying a subscription. Here are some key factors we suggest considering. Trustworthiness Most importantly, look for an established VPN provider with a proven track record and a transparent privacy policy that ensures your data will not be logged or collected. It's a bonus if the policy has been independently verified through third-party audits. A simple <keyword id="6355629" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="google" source="Orion">Google</keyword> search can reveal a lot about a VPN's reputation, and a reputable VPN should not have any significant security breaches or customer data leaks in its history. Speed and security Additionally, ensure the VPN you choose uses robust encryption to safeguard your data and offers fast and reliable services for smooth and lag-free streaming. Network size and diversity A wide selection of servers and server locations is beneficial for two reasons. Firstly, it means you'll have more bandwidth available and won't experience slow speeds due to overcrowded servers. Secondly, it reduces the chances of getting detected by streaming services that block VPNs, as services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and others often flag IP addresses with heavy traffic loads. Independently audited no-logs policy Given the active monitoring of online activities by the Indian government, it's crucial to choose a VPN that has a strict no-logs policy. This means they do not collect private information, including personally identifiable data, ensuring your privacy remains intact. Customer support Regardless of which VPN you choose, it's important to be realistic and anticipate potential connection issues. Therefore, having easy access to a responsible and reliable support team should be a priority on your ‘must-have’ list when evaluating VPN providers. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The best VPNs for India" comment="subhead" text="The best VPNs for India">The best VPNs for India</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="ExpressVPN" comment="subhead" text="ExpressVPN">ExpressVPN</cmsannotation> Server/s in India: Yes (virtual) Number of servers: 3,000+ Server locations: 160 Maximum devices supported: 5 24/7 live chat support: Yes ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN providers that has set up secure virtual locations to bypass logging requirements in India. It has an extensive physical network covering countries around India. With obfuscated servers, ExpressVPN ensures that your traffic remains undetectable even under strict restrictions. It offers its own Lightway and OpenVPN protocols, has a verified no-logging policy, and provides 24/7 customer support via email or live chat. ExpressVPN also offers easy-to-use applications for major platforms and has a track record of unlocking streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and more. It's also proven effective for watching sports and cricket from other countries, including accessing Hotstar content outside of India. <a href="https://www.expressvpn.com/?irclickid=WVu0GyXRbxyNWzg24Q3Y3QHdUkAQZxyBqWNoRY0&amp;shareid=&amp;irgwc=1">Try here</a> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Surfshark" comment="subhead" text="Surfshark">Surfshark</cmsannotation> Server/s in India: Yes (virtual) Number of servers: 3,200+ Server locations: 100+ Maximum devices supported: Unlimited 24/7 live chat support: Yes Surfshark is a rising star in the VPN world with a clean and user-friendly interface and affordable pricing, making it the top choice for budget-conscious users. It offers a wide range of features, including AES-256 encryption, multiple protocols, DNS protection, split tunneling, and even a Double VPN hop for extra security. While there have been some reported issues with the kill switch on Windows, they are rare and extreme situations. Like ExpressVPN, Surfshark also uses virtual servers to protect users' privacy, allowing for secure local browsing or access to its 3,200+ international servers. It has dedicated anti-censorship features, such as its ‘Camouflage mode’ obfuscation technology and "No Borders" option that connects to servers performing well under network restrictions. <a href="https://surfshark.com/deals?coupon=surfsharkdeal&amp;transaction_id=102e83020fa8dac49a959c16259b8a&amp;offer_id=61&amp;affiliate_id=1691&amp;source=hawk&amp;aff_sub=&amp;i=&amp;utm_source=Affiliates&amp;utm_medium=1691&amp;utm_campaign=affiliate&amp;recurring_goal_id=50">Try here</a> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="ProtonVPN" comment="subhead" text="ProtonVPN">ProtonVPN</cmsannotation> Server/s in India: Yes (Smart Routing) Number of servers: 1,800+ Server locations: 85+ Maximum devices supported: 10 24/7 live chat support: No ProtonVPN, based in Switzerland, offers a sleek interface, impeccable performance, and plenty of nifty features. It has a free VPN option with unlimited bandwidth, making it a great choice for VPN beginners, and its free coverage has recently expanded to over 100 servers from the previous 29. While ProtonVPN has shut off its physical servers in India, users can still access an Indian IP by choosing one of its Smart Routing servers in Singapore. Upgrading to the Plus plan allows users to connect through Secure Core servers located in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden, adding an extra layer of security to their traffic. <a href="https://protonvpn.com/">Try here</a> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="NordVPN" comment="subhead" text="NordVPN"><keyword id="2893495" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nordvpn" source="Orion">NordVPN</keyword></cmsannotation> Server/s in India: No Number of servers: 5,600+ Server locations: 80+ Maximum devices supported: 6 24/7 live chat support: Yes NordVPN earns high praise for several reasons. It is ideal for streamers, easy to use, and offers clients and apps for a wide range of platforms, along with a massive network of over 5,600 servers. Despite recently terminating operations in India, NordVPN assures customers that it can meet their needs without resorting to fake locations, unlike some competitors. One of NordVPN's standout features is its extra layer of security options. In addition to standard protocols and 256-bit AES encryption, it offers Double VPN, which routes traffic through encrypted servers twice, and Onion Over VPN, which sends data through the secure Onion network. Furthermore, NordVPN undergoes an annual independent audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers to verify its strict no-logging policy, making it one of the most secure VPN services available. <a href="https://nordvpn.com/special/?utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_term=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.techradar.com%2Fvpn%2Fbest-india-vpn&amp;utm_content&amp;utm_campaign=off564&amp;utm_source=aff3013">Try here</a> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="CyberGhost" comment="subhead" text="CyberGhost">CyberGhost</cmsannotation> Server/s in India: Yes (virtual) Number of servers: 9,200+ Server locations: 115 Maximum devices supported: 7 24/7 live chat support: Yes CyberGhost offers an extensive range of over 9,200 international servers, including virtual locations for users in India who want to browse locally while maintaining their privacy. The option of Romanian-based NoSpy servers adds an extra layer of security, albeit at an additional cost. CyberGhost's apps are user-friendly and come with convenient features such as the Smart Rules panel, which allows users to connect automatically to their preferred server upon launching the app. Although CyberGhost's peak speeds have slightly decreased in recent testing, it still outperforms competitors like ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN with impressive speeds of up to 730Mbps using the WireGuard protocol. While it may have some limitations in terms of unblocking UK Netflix and Disney Plus, it still easily bypasses restrictions to grant access to the US catalog of Netflix. <a href="https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/offer/best?media_source=google_brand&amp;campaign=18137720579&amp;adgroup=139059196294&amp;keyword=cyberghost&amp;matchtype=e&amp;conversionpoint=&amp;channel=&amp;extension=&amp;brand=ppc&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw0ZiiBhBKEiwA4PT9zwXOAVKk4CldK2shEWbIldB9NGZ2fqGHGlkb-734J5xIc1IxUb1HexoC1TYQAvD_BwE">Try here</a> SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/bard-to-magi-googles-latest-weapon-in-the-battle-for-search-supremacy/articleshow/99576251.cms">From Bard to Magi: Google's latest weapon in the battle for search supremacy</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/ai-generated-images-and-videos-a-game-changer-or-a-threat-to-authenticity/articleshow/99560443.cms">AI-generated images and videos: A game-changer or a threat to authenticity?</a>

The best VPNs to safeguard your online privacy and security in India

<ul><li><keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> was the most affected country in the world, with 12 per cent of all the data on bots markets being Indian.</li><li>The data is sold in packets, which include logins, cookies, <keyword id="50691" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="digital" source="Orion">digital</keyword> fingerprints, screenshots, and other information.</li><li>At least 26.6 million stolen logins were found on the analysed markets. </li></ul> As data-harvesting malware or bots flourish, data of at least 6 lakh Indians have been stolen and sold on bot markets and the average price for the digital identity of one Indian is about Rs 490, cyber-security researchers revealed on Thursday. India was the most affected country in the world, with 12 per cent of all the data on bots markets being Indian, according to research by cybersecurity company NordVPN. Bot markets are online marketplaces hackers use to sell data they steal from their victims' devices with bot malware. The data is sold in packets, which include logins, cookies, digital fingerprints, screenshots, and other information -- the full digital identity of a compromised person. This growing threat has already affected five million people globally, with hackers selling webcam snaps, screenshots, up-to-date logins, cookies and digital fingerprints. "At least five million people have had their online identities stolen and sold on bot markets for Rs 490 on average. Out of all the affected people, 600,000 are from India, making the country the most affected by this threat in the world," said the researchers. At least 26.6 million stolen logins were found on the analysed markets. Among them were 720,000 <keyword id="6355629" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="google" source="Orion">Google</keyword> logins, 654,000 <keyword id="10387" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="microsoft" source="Orion">Microsoft</keyword> logins, and 647,000 Facebook logins. In addition, researchers found 667 million cookies, 81 thousand digital fingerprints, 538 thousand auto-fill forms, numerous device screenshots, and webcam snaps. "Digital bots are becoming increasingly common. They operate in fields such as customer service, search engine optimisation and entertainment. Yet not all bots may serve good intentions -- many of them can be malicious," said security researchers. The most popular types of malware that steal and gather data include <keyword id="3258277" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="redline" source="Orion">RedLine</keyword>, <keyword id="15729861" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vidar" source="Orion">Vidar</keyword>, <keyword id="15729863" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="racoon" source="Orion">Racoon</keyword>, Taurus, and AZORult. RedLine is the most prevalent of them all. "The 2easy marketplace was launched in 2018. At first, it was considered to be smaller compared to other markets. Yet the situation has dramatically changed since then. Now, 2easy sells more than 600,000 stolen data logs from 269 countries," said the report. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/most-popular-how-to-searches-on-google-in-2022/slidelist/96076136.cms">Most popular ‘how to’ searches on Google in 2022 in India</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/dharmaj-crop-guard-lists-at-12-premium-but-below-grey-market-expectations/articleshow/96075246.cms">Dharmaj Crop Guard lists at 12% premium but below grey market expectations</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/the-most-searched-movies-on-google-in-2022-in-india/slidelist/96060662.cms">From Brahmastra to KGF: The most searched movies on Google in 2022 in India</a>

Data of 6 lakh Indians sold on 'bot' markets for nearly Rs 490 each

<ul><li>NordVPN will be shutting down its operations in India by June 26.</li><li>NordVPN becomes the third VPN service provider to exit India citing cybersecurity directives from CERT-In.</li><li>Earlier, ExpressVPN and SurfShark VPN service providers shut down their services in India.</li></ul>NordVPN, one of the most popular VPN service providers confirms that it will be shutting down its <keyword id="77906" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="servers" source="Orion">servers</keyword> in India due to the local government’s new <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/what-is-the-impact-of-new-vpn-guidelines-on-users-and-vpn-providers/articleshow/91468069.cms">VPN guidelines</a> that make it mandatory for VPN providers to record the personal information of users including names, phone numbers, email, IP address, financial transaction and more for a period of five years. On Tuesday, the company spokesperson, Laura Tyrylyte confirmed that they are removing its servers on June 26. The company stated that with the new rules NordVPN won’t be able to guarantee privacy for its users. By June 20, NordVPN users will start receiving notifications about the shutdown within the app. After <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/new-vpn-rules-expressvpn-removes-its-servers-from-india-other-companies-may-pull-out-too/articleshow/91959389.cms">ExpressVPN</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/after-expressvpn-surfshark-is-shutting-down-servers-in-india-over-government-guidelines/articleshow/92073231.cms">SurfShark</a>, NordVPN becomes the third VPN service provider to exit India ahead cybersecurity directive from Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). The public relation head of NordVPN, Laura Tyrylyte said, “We adhere to strict privacy policies, which means we don’t collect or store customer data. No-logging features are embedded in our server architecture and are at the core of our principles and standards.” Moreover, she emphasised that the company is committed to protecting the privacy of customers, therefore, discontinuing operations in India. The Indian government appoints the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) to protect the country’s information infrastructure. CERT-In unveiled cybersecurity guidelines back in April stating that VPN providers, cloud service providers, and virtual asset service providers have to store customers' name, IP addresses, and email addresses. Also, they have to keep track of financial transactions made by users during the time of service. The new directive gets into effect from June 27 onwards. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/asus-launches-new-zenbook-and-vivobook-laptops-with-oled-displays-amd-processors-and-more/articleshow/92228253.cms">Asus launches new ZenBook and VivoBook laptops with OLED displays, AMD processors and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/jeff-bezos-elon-musk-and-mark-zuckerberg-have-each-seen-their-net-worths-drop-at-least-64-billion-this-year/articleshow/92213543.cms">Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg have each seen their net worths drop at least $64 billion this year</a>

After rejecting the Indian government's new cyber security guidelines, NordVPN to shut down its servers in India by June 26

<ul><li>The government has reportedly invited <keyword id="201519" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="vpn" source="Orion">VPN</keyword> service providers to discuss the new cybersecurity guidelines.</li><li>The new guidelines by the government mandate VPN service providers to record and store user data.</li><li>This comes after ExpressVPN and Surfshark announced that they are shutting down servers in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>.</li></ul>The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has invited virtual private network (VPN) service providers and other stakeholders such as cybersecurity experts, legal experts and tech policy groups to discuss the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/what-is-the-impact-of-new-vpn-guidelines-on-users-and-vpn-providers/articleshow/91468069.cms">cybersecurity guidelines</a> issued by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team’s (Cert-In). The country’s cyber watchdog on April 28 had issued guidelines that mandated VPN service providers to record and store user data for a period of five years. The guidelines are scheduled to come into effect from June end. Recording and sharing user data goes against the basic principles of VPN and companies have expressed their reservations over the new guidelines. Soon after the announcement, companies like ExpressVPN, NordVPN and PureVPN among others had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/what-is-the-impact-of-new-vpn-guidelines-on-users-and-vpn-providers/articleshow/91468069.cms">criticized</a> the guidelines, claiming that they do not record any user data. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/new-vpn-rules-expressvpn-removes-its-servers-from-india-other-companies-may-pull-out-too/articleshow/91959389.cms">ExpressVPN</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/after-expressvpn-surfshark-is-shutting-down-servers-in-india-over-government-guidelines/articleshow/92073231.cms">Surfshark</a>, two popular VPN service providers have already announced that they are shutting down their servers in India over the new VPN guidelines issued by the government. According to an Economic Times <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/after-expressvpn-surfshark-is-shutting-down-servers-in-india-over-government-guidelines/articleshow/92073231.cms">report</a>, the IT ministry has invited the stakeholders to discuss the impact of the guidelines issued by Cert-In on April 28. “It is a high-level meeting in which policy heads from various companies will also be present. There will be discussions primarily on the Cert-In directives which were issued on April 28, and whether it has had an adverse impact on the startup ecosystem yet. We also expect senior officials from other ministries to be present,” a source familiar with the matter told ET. VPN service providers aren’t the only ones that are against the new guidelines. The Internet Freedom Foundation said, “The directions were released by CERT-In without any public consultation with technology and cyber security experts, which has led to the inclusion of multiple unwarranted provisions.” SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/corporate-vpns-will-reportedly-not-be-affected-by-the-new-vpn-guidelines-in-india/articleshow/91534641.cms">Corporate VPNs will reportedly not be affected by the new VPN guidelines in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/after-expressvpn-surfshark-is-shutting-down-servers-in-india-over-government-guidelines/articleshow/92073231.cms">After ExpressVPN, Surfshark is shutting down servers in India over government guidelines</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/sbi-cards-phonepe-google-pay-to-benefit-from-rbi-allowing-credit-cards-to-be-linked-to-upi/articleshow/92099285.cms">SBI Cards, PhonePe, Google Pay to benefit from RBI allowing credit cards to be linked to UPI, say analysts</a>

Government invites VPN service providers for discussions after ExpressVPN and Surfshark shut down servers in India

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A <keyword id="11965160" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="data-breach" source="Orion">data breach</keyword> is when your personal data is accessed, copied, or changed by someone without your permission.</li><li>Most <keyword id="12224444" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="data-breaches" source="Orion">data breaches</keyword> involve hacked email accounts and stolen bank information.</li><li>The best way to protect against data breaches is to use strong passwords, make backups, and be wary of clicking links.</li></ul>Our daily lives revolve around the internet more than ever. And while this is great for working remotely, making friends in other countries, and shopping from your couch, it also comes with risks.In 2020, <a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2020_IC3Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 791,790 complaints from victims of cyber crime</a>. And while a lot of these complaints came from users who were simply tricked into sending money to scammers, a massive amount of them stemmed from data breaches.Data breaches are the most common form of cyber crime, and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/09/30/is-identity-theft-fraud-heres-how-ai-and-graphing-tools-help-solve-the-puzzle/#:~:text=Identity%20crimes%20are%20on%20the,and%20fraud%20in%202020%20alone." target="_blank" rel="noopener">experts estimate that there's a new victim every two seconds</a>. Despite this, data breaches aren't hard to protect yourself from — it just takes some care and skepticism.Here's everything you need to know about data breaches, including how they work, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you're hacked.<h2>What is a data breach?</h2>A "data breach" is a general term for any time that someone accesses electronic data or information that they're not supposed to.The simplest example of a data breach is a hacked email account. If someone gets your email password and logs into your account, they've breached your data. At that point, they can send emails with your name, see all your contacts and sell their email addresses to marketers, and of course see any personal info that you've sent or received.Hackers might also target your bank accounts. Someone who gets access to your credit card information, social security numbers, or even online banking password can wreak a lot of havoc on your finances.<div type="image" title="senior woman shopping online on laptop holding credit card" height="1249" width="2500" msid="88216272" hostid="261"></div>Things get trickier if it's the servers of a major company that get breached. In 2019, First American Financial — one of the biggest mortgage insurance companies in the world — <a href="https://krebsonsecurity.com/2021/06/first-american-financial-pays-farcical-500k-fine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced that over 800 million real estate documents had been leaked and stolen from its website</a>. This included 16 years of bank records, phone numbers, home addresses, and more.The actual customers couldn't do anything to protect themselves here. It was the company that they trusted with their personal data that caused the problem.If you use a password manager, you might occasionally get a notification saying that a password of yours was included in a data breach. This doesn't necessarily mean that your accounts have been hacked — more likely, your password was included in a massive company leak like we described above. Still not good, but it gives you more time to protect yourself.<div type="image" title="A warning from Google Chrome that a user password was found in a data breach." height="625" width="1074" msid="88216274" hostid="261"></div>And hackers aren't always the computer masterminds you see in movies, constantly prodding at big websites to find a way in. A great deal of breaches stem from social engineering <keyword id="12273077" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="scams" source="Orion">scams</keyword>, where a user gets tricked into giving up their passwords to a scammer they think they can trust. Some breaches even happen accidentally — maybe a company stores user passwords on a public website without realizing. But no matter the cause, when it comes to your personal <keyword id="6361948" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cybersecurity" source="Orion">cybersecurity</keyword>, there are a few best practices you should follow to protect yourself.<h2>How to protect yourself from a data breach</h2>Dave Hatter, a cybersecurity specialist from InTrust IT, tells me that "It's never been easier to have access to tools that make yourself a much more difficult target."You can protect yourself against data breaches and hacks in the same ways that you protect against most cyber crimes: Be proactive, be unique, and be skeptical.<h3>Be proactive</h3>The best time to worry about cybersecurity is before you're ever in danger. This means making a security plan and sticking to it.If you have data stored online that you can't risk losing, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-backup-files-on-windows-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">make backups of it</a>. This might mean taking screenshots, downloading documents, and moving things onto an external hard drive. The more backups you have, the safer you are.Keep a close eye on your finances. Aside from checking your monthly statements, cybersecurity experts I spoke to all recommended signing up for a credit monitoring service that can keep track of any suspicious activity in your credit report.Hatter also says that computer users should make sure they have a good antivirus program installed. Windows users are lucky that all new PCs come with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/windows-defender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Windows Defender</a>, one of the best antivirus programs available, pre-installed. But "the top antivirus changes all the time," he says, "so be aware of what options are out there."If an app or website offers <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/two-factor-authentication" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two-factor (also called multi-factor) authentication</a>, enable it for your account. It's a simple but powerful way to lock strangers out of your data.<div type="image" title="Google asking for a verification code to prove that the user really owns this Google account." height="644" width="575" msid="88216275" hostid="261"></div>Enterprise users and companies should invest in a good firewall, keep a dedicated cybersecurity team on retainer, and perform regular "vulnerability tests" to see how strong their defenses really are. Also make sure you have a cyber insurance policy that can keep you safe in the event of a hack.Darren Shou, the CTO of cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock, says to keep all your devices updated — even including "printers, Wi-Fi routers, and smart devices." It's easy to brush off updates as being useless or annoying, but they almost always come with important security patches to help keep you safe against new threats.<h3>Be unique</h3>Most websites only ask for a single username and password combo to log in. This means that if you have an easy-to-guess password, or use the same password on multiple websites, it's incredibly easy to break into your account.This means that you want to use a different password for all your separate accounts. And that password should be "strong" — in other words:<ul><li>It should be long (at least 12 characters, minimum)</li><li>Use upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols</li><li>Don't use common words or phrases like "password," or personal details like your birthday</li></ul><div type="image" title="Password Pin security" height="1500" width="3000" msid="88216277" hostid="261"></div>If you're reading this and feeling overwhelmed, don't worry: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/are-password-managers-safe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This is what password managers are made for</a>.Dave Hatter, along with every cybersecurity expert I've spoken to, fully recommends using password managers like LastPass. These apps will create incredibly strong passwords for all your apps, and then automatically enter them when you need them. This lets you keep your data secure without needing to remember dozens of different passwords.The only password that you need to create for yourself and keep ultra-safe is your LastPass master password. This is the password that protects all the others, so don't skimp on it.Quick tip: If you're worried about LastPass itself getting hacked and leaking all your passwords, don't be. Companies like LastPass use "zero-knowledge encryption," meaning that even they don't know your passwords or store them internally — they just provide the software.Some cybersecurity experts <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-often-should-i-change-my-password" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also recommend changing all your passwords every few months</a>. And while this certainly doesn't hurt, having strong passwords and two-factor authentication set up is much more important.You can test how good your passwords are for free <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-secure-is-my-password" target="_blank" rel="noopener">using NordVPN's "online strength checker."</a><h3>Be skeptical</h3>Backups are important, updates are important, and passwords are crucial. But all the time you spend keeping yourself safe doesn't mean anything if you don't apply what Darren Shou calls "common-sense skepticism."If you receive an email from someone you don't know asking you to download an attachment, you probably know not to do it. But what if you get a text, seemingly from your bank, warning about fraud on your account? Or a private message from a friend asking you to click a "hilarious" link?Darren Shou refers to these scams as "an attack on the human operating system." They're designed to prey on users who aren't thinking about what they click, or who completely trust that they're protected.<div type="image" title="A Twitter post promising &quot;100,000,000 DOGE&quot; to users who clicked a fake link." height="886" width="1228" msid="88216278" hostid="261"></div>Don't click links if you don't know exactly where they're taking you. When you get a suspicious email or text, ask yourself: "Was I expecting to receive this? Do I know the sender? Is it even important?" If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.If you're not sure, directly contact your bank, or friend, or whoever is claiming they know you and ask. There's a good chance that they'll tell you you're dealing with a fake.And if you're managing a large group of people, make sure that they're educated about internet scams, data breaches, and suspicious links. It doesn't matter how strong your locks are if someone inside just opens the door.<h2>What to do if your data is breached</h2>But what if someone does manage to slip past your defenses and access your accounts? How do you recover and repair the damage?Before anything, remember: Don't panic.In the aftermath of a data breach, "You have to keep calm and keep your common sense," says Shou. Lots of scammers are trained to strike at people who have just been scammed by someone else, hoping to take advantage of their desperation. Keep your guard up and stay skeptical.Quick tip: There are dozens of websites and social media pages who claim they can easily get any stolen money or data back for a fee. Some will even offer to "counter-hack" whoever breached you. Don't trust these sites — they're scams.Ideally, you'll want to figure out how many accounts were hacked, and change all their passwords. If you use a password manager, change your master password too.Triple-check your financial records, and if anything seems off, don't hesitate to freeze your accounts and credit. Some identity theft monitoring services will let you meet with an attorney, if need be.<div type="image" title="Man frustrated at computer at work" height="1986" width="3972" msid="88216279" hostid="261"></div>If you're a company that's been breached, get in touch with your cyber insurance team and report the breach, along with your in-house legal and IT teams. While your IT team works to limit the damage, you'll need to make some decisions about whether to notify your customers (it's required by law in some cases) and whether to contact law enforcement.Dave Hatter warns that while you might be tempted to delete everything that the hacker saw, you shouldn't do it. If you do decide to get law enforcement involved, deleting too much data can count as destroying evidence.<h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>Data breaches can be devastating, and only get more common as we move our lives online.But both consumers and businesses can take concrete and simple steps to protect their data and themselves. Create strong passwords, keep your electronics updated, make copies of your data, and don't trust every link that comes your way.And of course, don't go crazy trying to manage everything alone. Services like LastPass, NortonLifeLock, and SentinelOne are designed to make cybersecurity easier. If you have the money and want to boost your security, check them out.

How to protect yourself from data breaches and what to do if your personal data is compromised online

<ul><li>The <keyword id="44734" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-government" source="Orion">Indian government</keyword> has banned its employees from using virtual private networks (<keyword id="201519" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="vpn" source="Orion">VPN</keyword>).</li><li>The government has also asked employees to avoid storing confidential documents on non-government cloud services.</li><li>The government is currently at loggerheads with VPN service providers over its cybersecurity guidelines.</li></ul>The Indian government is currently at loggerheads with <keyword id="412962" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="virtual-private-network" source="Orion">virtual private network</keyword> (VPN) service providers over its cybersecurity guidelines. In a new directive, the government has banned its employees from using third-party VPNs. According to an Economic Times <a href="https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/govt-bans-vpn-cloud-services-for-employees/92269107">report</a>, the Indian government has banned its employees from using third-party VPN from companies like ExpressVPN, NordVPN and others. This comes after companies like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/new-vpn-rules-expressvpn-removes-its-servers-from-india-other-companies-may-pull-out-too/articleshow/91959389.cms">ExpressVPN</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/after-expressvpn-surfshark-is-shutting-down-servers-in-india-over-government-guidelines/articleshow/92073231.cms">Surfshark</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/nordvpn-to-shut-down-its-servers-in-india-by-june-26-2022/articleshow/92229519.cms">NordVPN</a> announced that they are removing their servers from India over the government’s new cybersecurity guidelines that will go into effect from June 27. The government had recently <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/government-invites-vpn-service-providers-for-discussions-after-expressvpn-and-surfshark-shut-down-servers-in-india/articleshow/92119411.cms">invited</a> VPN service providers and other stakeholders to discuss the guidelines issued by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team’s (Cert-In). <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Govt employees told not to store confidential data on third-party cloud services" comment="subhead" text="Govt employees told not to store confidential data on third-party cloud services">Govt employees told not to store confidential data on third-party cloud services</cmsannotation> In addition to banning government employees from using VPN services, the directive has also urged employees to avoid saving any internal, restricted or confidential government data on non-government cloud services such as Google Drive or Dropbox. The guidelines have reportedly been issued by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which comes under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). “In order to sensitise the government employees and contractual/outsourced resources and build awareness amongst them on what to do and what not to do from a cyber security perspective, these guidelines have been compiled,” said the NIC document accessed by ET. The document further directs employees not to “root” or “jailbreak” their smartphones. It has also directed employees to avoid using CamScanner to scan government documents. Interestingly, CamScanner was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/tiktok-shareit-uc-browser-club-factory-among-59-chinese-apps-banned-by-the-indian-government/articleshow/76694483.cms">banned</a> by the government along with other Chinese apps in June 2020. “By following uniform cyber security guidelines in government offices across the country, the security posture of the government can be improved,” the directive added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/what-is-the-impact-of-new-vpn-guidelines-on-users-and-vpn-providers/articleshow/91468069.cms">Indian government's VPN guidelines will impact over 270 million users as VPN providers have no option but to leave the country</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/after-expressvpn-surfshark-is-shutting-down-servers-in-india-over-government-guidelines/articleshow/92073231.cms">After ExpressVPN, Surfshark is shutting down servers in India over government guidelines</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/upi-and-rupay-cards-will-soon-be-accepted-in-france/articleshow/92247190.cms">You will soon be able to use UPI in France in addition to UAE, Singapore</a>

India expands its crackdown on VPN, bans its employees from using VPN and cloud services

<ul><li>People often use <keyword id="8541683" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="common-passwords" source="Orion">common passwords</keyword> that are easy to remember, leaving themselves vulnerable.</li><li>A strong and unique password is necessary in this digital world.</li><li>Here’s a look at some of the most common passwords in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> and how easily they can be cracked.</li></ul>Passwords are becoming more and more important in this digital world and we have to remember several passwords for social media platforms, emails, e-commerce websites, bank accounts and more, making it a tiresome process. The number of platforms that require you to use a password makes the process of selecting a unique password very difficult and people usually end up using simple or common passwords such as their spouse’s name, their birth date, parents name or their pet’s name, making it extremely easy for people familiar with them to guess these passwords. Apart from the above-mentioned passwords, people often use passwords that are easy to remember. At the same time, these are quite easy to crack, making them useless in most cases. According to a report by <keyword id="9446474" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="nordpass" source="Orion">NordPass</keyword>, a password manager developed by NordVPN, here are the most commonly used passwords in India in 2022. The company has worked in partnership with independent researchers to evaluate a 3TB database to identify these trends. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Most common passwords in India in 2022" comment="subhead" text="Most common passwords in India in 2022">Most common passwords in India in 2022</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="password" comment="subhead2" text="password">password</cmsannotation> “password” is one of those words that most users may think of when entering a password on any platform. This isn’t something unique as 34,90,216 users in the country have used it as their password. It is so common that it takes less than a second for an attacker to crack it. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="123456" comment="subhead2" text="123456">123456</cmsannotation> Another password that is quite common is “123456” and users often use it on many of their accounts as it is quite easy to recall and does not require any effort. This is used by 1,66,757 users and takes less than a second to be cracked. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="12345678" comment="subhead2" text="12345678">12345678</cmsannotation> Some people think increasing the length of their password and using “12345678” instead of “123456” may make it unique, but that’s not the case as it has been used by 1,14,073 users and again, takes less than a second to be cracked. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="bigbasket" comment="subhead2" text="bigbasket">bigbasket</cmsannotation> Easily one of the most surprising results from the report, 75,081 users have used “bigbasket” as a password, which can actually be cracked in 5 minutes. While an odd pick, it looks like even this password is quite common and can be easily cracked. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="123456789" comment="subhead2" text="123456789">123456789</cmsannotation> Another password that we may often consider is “123456789”. Despite being quite long, it is quite simple. The password has been used 30,424 times and can be cracked in less than a second. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="pass@123" comment="subhead2" text="pass@123">pass@123</cmsannotation> “pass@123” uses a combination of a symbol, number and alphabets, making you believe that it is good enough. It has been used by 20,792 users and, as per the report, can be cracked in just 2 seconds, making it as useless as “123456”. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="1234567890" comment="subhead2" text="1234567890">1234567890</cmsannotation> If you thought adding a 0 at the end and using “1234567890” would make it secure, you are in for a surprise. This password has been used by 14,715 users and can be cracked in less than a second. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="anmol123" comment="subhead2" text="anmol123">anmol123</cmsannotation> Anmol certainly appears to be a common name in India, as this is the only name to have made it to the list of passwords. The password “anmol123” has been used by 10,143 users. While it may look simple, it takes around 17 minutes to be cracked, making it a slightly more secure password compared to others on the list. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="abcd1234" comment="subhead2" text="abcd1234">abcd1234</cmsannotation> Another combination that is often used is “abcd1234”. It has been used by 8,941 users and can be cracked in less than a second. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="googledummy" comment="subhead2" text="googledummy">googledummy</cmsannotation> Another unusual password on the list is “googledummy”. It has been used by 8,435 users and takes 23 minutes to be cracked, making it the most difficult password to crack on the list of the most common passwords. If you have used these passwords on any of your accounts, we recommend you to change them immediately. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How to ensure your password is secure" comment="subhead" text="How to ensure your password is secure">How to ensure your password is secure</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Use long and complex passwords" comment="subhead2" text="Use long and complex passwords">Use long and complex passwords</cmsannotation> The easiest method to select a strong password for your accounts is to use a long and complex password that uses a combination of upper and lowercase letters, number and symbols. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Password managers" comment="subhead2" text="Password managers">Password managers</cmsannotation> One of the easiest methods to securely store your passwords is to use a password manager. In addition to storing your passwords, some of the applications also allow you to generate and store unique passwords that are quite difficult to crack. Some popular and trusted password managers include 1Password, LastPass, NordPass and Enpass, among others. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Do not reuse passwords" comment="subhead2" text="Do not reuse passwords">Do not reuse passwords</cmsannotation> One of the most important things that you need to remember is that you should not reuse passwords. Make sure that your passwords are unique so that a breach on a single account does not affect other accounts. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Change passwords regularly" comment="subhead2" text="Change passwords regularly">Change passwords regularly</cmsannotation> It is recommended that you regularly change your passwords, especially for important accounts such as your bank account, email, social media and more. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Do not write down or store your password on your devices" comment="subhead2" text="Do not write down or store your password on your devices">Do not write down or store your password on your devices</cmsannotation> One of the most common mistakes that people make is to write down their passwords in a paper or a word document on their computer and save it. It makes your passwords vulnerable as anyone who gets their hands on these documents can access all your accounts. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/how-to-add-and-remove-your-whatsapp-account-on-your-second-phone/articleshow/95549492.cms">How to use same WhatsApp account on two smartphones</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/four-out-of-five-indian-business-executives-predict-an-increase-in-cybersecurity-budgets-in-2023/articleshow/95403725.cms">Four out of five Indian business execs believe that their cybersecurity budgets will rise in 2023</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/how-to-delete-your-number-and-email-from-facebooks-database/articleshow/95349999.cms">How to delete your number and email from Facebook’s database</a>

You Searched For "cybersecurity company NordVPN" and got 7 results

The best VPNs to safeguard your online privacy and security in India

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Data of 6 lakh Indians sold on 'bot' markets for nearly Rs 490 each

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After rejecting the Indian government's new cyber security guidelines, NordVPN to shut down its servers in India by June 26

Rahul Verma

Government invites VPN service providers for discussions after ExpressVPN and Surfshark shut down servers in India

Sourabh Jain

How to protect yourself from data breaches and what to do if your personal data is compromised online

William Antonelli

India expands its crackdown on VPN, bans its employees from using VPN and cloud services

Sourabh Jain

From 'bigbasket' to 'googledummy', these are the most commonly used passwords in India

Sourabh Jain

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