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Why Should You Care?
In the 21st century, we have more access to information than in previous centuries. Courtesy of the internet, we have boatloads of information at our fingertips that we can use to enrich our lives. On the flip side, the internet is a potential threat to us and those we love. You might know a friend, acquaintance, or company that fell victim to fraud or hacking. The threats are real.
Luckily, there are tips you can implement to ensure your safety online. Below is the best advice on how to stay safe online.
Keep personal information offline
Would you share personal information with a stranger? Of course not, so why do you share it with millions of strangers online? Some personal information should always remain personal. Research shows that 47% of US citizens were victims of identity theft in 2021, leading to huge financial losses.
However, even talented hackers cannot steal or access personal information not posted online. If you must share personal data via the internet, send it as an email attachment and encrypt the file before sending it.
Browse safely
If you are wary about strolling through a dangerous community, why risk it by visiting a dangerous or fishy website? At the start of 2022, Google had over 3 million phishing websites.
How do you know a website is fishy or reliable? First, check the site address; it should start with HTTPS:// and not HTTP://. Some sites also have a padlock sign next to the address, meaning it’s encrypted and secure.
Second, the look and feel of a site will shed more light on its authenticity. A safe site should have:
- Neat pages free from errors
- Consistent grammar in the address line and body
- Images well-fitting the screen
- Organic feeling ads that don’t block site content
If the site meets the above criteria, it’s likely to be safe.
Keep the privacy settings on
To grow an eCommerce business, marketers collect personal data they use for targeted marketing campaigns. In the same way, hackers can collect/steal your data from social media platforms and browsers. Luckily, Mobile operating systems and web browsers have settings designed to protect your privacy. Sites like Facebook have privacy-enhancing settings to help keep you safe. These settings may be difficult to find since companies want to keep your data for marketing. Regardless, look for these privacy safeguards and enable them.
Secure your internet connection using a VPN
A virtual private network creates a secure connection to the internet. It keeps hackers from monitoring your activities and accessing private data. It’s a legal and efficient method of securing your home connection even when connected to public Wi-Fi.
Although it secures your connection, a VPN might slow down your connection. This is because VPN software route you to a different server to keep you safe.
Beware of what you download, and free Wi-Fi
Who doesn’t love free things? Unfortunately, free Wi-Fi networks and downloads can do more harm than good. Most cybercriminals disguise malware as legit apps and programs designed to steal information. Be careful what you download and ensure it’s from a reliable source.
If you are on public Wi-Fi, avoid completing online purchases or accessing your financial accounts. If you must, do so through VPN software for a layer of protection. But if it’s nothing urgent, we suggest postponing your transactions until you get a secure connection.
Have bulletproof passwords
The average internet user has several accounts and passwords. To avoid forgetting these passwords, most people use simple passwords. At times they use the same password for all their accounts. Unfortunately, this move puts you at the risk of hacking.
A unique and strong password provides more protection. A strong password has more than 12 characters and is a mixture of letters, numbers, and symbols. If you are having trouble coming up with a unique, strong password for each account, use a password generator instead. To make sure you remember the passwords, use password managers.
Update your computer
Internet security technology is great, and it keeps getting better and better. Unfortunately, cybercriminals and hackers are creative and adapt to new security protocols. Because of this, apps and operating systems’ security are constantly getting upgrades.
Most people put off these upgrades for different reasons, but it puts them at risk of hacking. Instead of a manual system update, set your PC or mobile device to update automatically. You can pick a time when your machine is not in use to avoid work disruptions.
Use cybersecurity software
Following the tips suggested in this blog will go a long way in keeping you safe online. However, they are not foolproof. Sometimes you may slip up, or a hacker bests your system. When this happens, it helps to have an extra layer of security.
Cyber security software provides real-time antivirus protection for all devices, ad blockers, and unlimited VPN. Some might protect you from phishing and spam and alert you when your private data is made public.
Make use of multi-factor authentication
Improve the safety of your online habits by using two-factor authentication for sites that provide it. Most sites, especially those that handle sensitive private and financial information, provide 2FA. This is where they require identity confirmation before granting you access to your account.
Some sites send a verification code to your email or send a text to your phone or provide an authenticator device. It sounds like a lot of hassle to access your account, but it’s necessary to keep hackers out.
Back up personal data
Most devices, smartphones, and laptops allow you to backup your data. We recommend taking your time to set up the backup. Even if your computer is infected with malware or is damaged, your trusted computer repair store can help recover the data.
Cautious and confident
Online security risks are real. However, they aren’t to be feared; instead, respect them by following the safety tips we’ve outlined above. The tips will help protect your online habits against hackers waiting to pounce and reap where they didn’t sow.
