4 Clever Ways To Stay Safe Online

Staying safe online is one of the most important challenges in the 21st century, particularly as nobody ever thinks that they are at risk. After all, who would want your information, especially if you’re not exactly a multi-millionaire, you know?

However, the risks are probably much greater than you think, and anybody can steal your data, or convince you that they’re legitimate, and subsequently use your information in a fraudulent and potentially dangerous way.

If you want to stay safe online, follow these four simple tips to make sure that your data is protected.

 

#1 Be careful who you trust with personal information

It sounds like a no-brainer, but if you want to make sure that you’re safe online, you need to be certain that you’re not trusting the wrong people with your personal information. People can seem like they are legitimate, and have a genuine interest in your life, but they may be wanting to use your data for more malicious purposes, so keep it to yourself.

You don’t want to have to deal with issues such as fraud and stalking.

 

#2 Don’t believe every email that you receive

The first thing that you think when you get an email is that it must be from a company if the logo is on it, right? However, a lot of scammers are pretty clever when it comes to creating realistic emails, and your inbox may have a darker side to it than you first thought.

Check the sender’s address, and don’t be afraid to double check with the actual company if you believe that it may be a spam email.

 

#3 Use a VPN

VPNs have been around for quite a while now, but some people don’t use them, which could be a big mistake.

If you type into Google ‘what is my IP address?’ you’ll soon see all of the information that is shared with others about you, so look into VPNs that operate successfully in your country. VPNs working well in China and other countries can be hard to find, but there are some out there that run well.

 

#4 Create complex and varying passwords

This sounds like it wouldn’t be an issue in 2019, but weak passwords are still one of the things that cause most of the main issues for people online. If you’re using ‘yourname123’ and simultaneously wondering why you’ve been hacked, then this may be your problem. Create complex passwords that vary for each site, and don’t be afraid to use the longer ones generated for you by some websites.

So, if you want to stay safe online, make sure that you follow these four simple tips! From being careful who you trust with your personal information and being cautious about emails, to using a VPN and creating complex and varying passwords, there are many ways to protect yourself from the evils of the internet.

In fact, it’s pretty easy when you know how, huh? Good luck, and stay safe, with your new-found internet safety knowledge!

What are you doing to stay safe online?