We all know that there are some suspicious people on the internet, but staying safe online doesn’t require you to kill them. Instead, stay calm and check out these simple tips for internet safety:
Don’t share your personal information
It goes without saying that you shouldn’t share your password, bank information, social media account when it comes to online security. . or your online address. Keep in mind that identity theft isn’t the only risk of insecurity online, so sharing content is riskier than you might think. Other information, such as details about your relationship, can be used to answer security questions and can also provide clues if hackers guess your password.
Double-check before clicking a link
When checking email or surfing social media, make sure you know and trust a link before clicking it.
One way to tell if a link is secure is to hover your mouse over the link. This will display a preview of the full link in the web browser’s status bar. Make sure the preview link matches the website it should come from; You can verify the correct website link by searching the company name on Google.
Use Secure Public Wi-Fi Networks
You should not use unsecured (non-password locked) public Wi-Fi networks unless absolutely necessary. If you use it, do not log into any of your accounts or access your personal or financial information online or through the app.
Hackers have been known to set up fake Wi-Fi hotspots to lure unsuspecting web surfers. When someone logs into a fake Wi-Fi, hackers can see everything they do on their online Internet servers, so no one can monitor your activities or access your information over your Internet-connected connection. It’s a great (and legal) way to keep your connection secure when you’re at home or even on public Wi-Fi.
Only go to sites that start with https://
Need to check your account balance? If you are logging into a website, make sure the address at the top of your website starts with https://, not http://.
You can see a lock icon next to the address. “S” stands for “Secure”; this means that the website encrypts your information.
Be careful who you and your children talk to
Cyberbullying, threats and harassment are real problems online. We recommend that you choose carefully who you talk to and interact with online. If they cross the line, close the issue and hit the block button.
Children and teenagers can be cyberbullied by their friends and cause problems for them because they know the people involved. Dial
Bluetooth off
A group of researchers discovered that Bluetooth communication can be interrupted or even used. They can exploit the vulnerability in the Bluetooth connection, and then listen and change the content of the nearby Bluetooth communication.
Use antivirus and anti-malware software
Do not use the Internet without proper protection. You can find free and low-cost antivirus software even if you’re on a tight budget.
But it’s worth buying the software out of pocket to avoid dealing with malware or worse. If you already have an antivirus or anti-malware software installed, be sure to keep it up to date.
Create and use strong passwords
Yes, we’re about to bang the drums: You must use strong passwords to be better on the Internet. Strong passwords are a great deterrent for cybercriminals.
If your password is among the top 200 (or, let’s be honest, the same among them), you should change it. Now. It also doesn’t hurt to make as many claims as possible.
Backing Up Your Data
Most Macs and PCs have the option to back up your data, so it’s worth your while to do this often. Backups can save your life if your computer is infected: You should be able to restore your computer to its original state before it was infected.
