There are many things to consider when it comes to protecting your documents. In this article, we will discuss 10 common mistakes people make and how to avoid them.

1. Not encrypting email attachments

One of the most common document security mistakes is not encrypting email attachments. This can lead to sensitive information being leaked if the email is intercepted or hacked. To avoid leaking confidential information, always encrypt your email attachments.

2. Not password protecting PDFs

Another mistake people make is not password protecting their PDFs. This is a big security risk as PDFs can be easily shared and forwarded. Avoid this mistake if you have sensitive information in a PDF, make sure to protect your sensitive data with a password.

3. Storing documents in the cloud without encryption

If you store your digital documents in the cloud without encrypting them, they are at risk of being accessed by unauthorized people. To keep your documents safe, always encrypt them before uploading them to the cloud to protect your personal data so that they do not fall into the wrong hands.

4. Not shredding old documents

When you're finished with a document, make sure to shred it so that it can't be read by anyone else. This is especially important for documents that contain sensitive information.

5. Not backing up documents

Backing up your documents is important in case of a computer crash, data loss, or security breach. Without a backup, you could lose confidential documents that you can't replace.

6. Using weak passwords

If you use weak passwords for your documents, they can be easily guessed by hackers. To keep your documents safe, use strong passwords that are difficult to guess.

7. Reusing passwords

Reusing passwords is another security mistake people make. If you use the same password for multiple accounts, a hacker only needs to guess it once to gain access to all of them. To avoid this, use different passwords for each account.

8. Sharing passwords 

Sharing passwords is never a good idea as it gives others access to your account and the documents you have stored there. If you need to share a password, make sure to change it afterwards.

9. Not using two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication is an important security measure that can help protect your accounts and documents. If a hacker tries to guess your password, they will also need to have access to your second factor, which could be a code sent to your phone or email.

10. Not keeping software up to date

Outdated software can be full of security holes that hackers can exploit. To avoid this, always keep your software up to date with the latest security patches.

Document security is important to protect your information from being leaked. To avoid common mistakes, always encrypt your email attachments, password protect your PDFs, and store documents in the cloud with encryption. Additionally, shred old documents and use strong passwords for all accounts. Finally, keep software up to date to avoid security holes.