Once upon a time, the last thing anyone had to worry about was online safety. The worst of people’s problems were potential predators in the street. However, now, you can be at risk without anyone even entering your home.
Although there are potential dangers online, it’s still possible to have a safe experience by taking the right precautions. The internet can be a powerful tool which can enrich your life and even business if you know how to use it responsibly.
Here are some of the best ways to stay safe online.
#1 Install Antivirus
Using the internet without an antivirus installed is like leaving your car unlocked in a crime-ridden neighborhood. It’s critical that you not only have the antivirus installed but that it’s up to date.
You should have the latest updates compatible with your operating system and applications. The last thing that you want is your computer catching a malicious virus.
Not only can your computer’s operating system be rendered entirely useless, but you can also lose precious files and private information. There’s no telling what hackers can do with anything they find on your computer.
You’re better off protecting yourself from finding out!
#2 Familiarize Yourself With Privacy Settings
It’s critical that you know how to alter your privacy settings. In many cases, default privacy isn’t enough. Get to know the individual privacy settings for each website that you visit.
Facebook, for example, has special privacy safeguards that you can enable to ensure your life isn’t visible to just anyone.
It’s recommended that you set your profile to private rather than public, especially if you share photos of your family. You should also turn off geotagging.
Although it’s not common, someone with malicious intentions could get ahold of your whereabouts or where your children go to school. You’re better off not letting people know where your photos were taken.
#3 Use a VPN
In order to make extra sure that your device is secure when connected to the internet, you should enable a VPN. A VPN masks your IP address so that no one can access your data.
#4 Choose Strong Passwords
One of the easiest ways for hackers to break into your data is by guessing your password. You’d be surprised how many people use passwords that are far too easy to guess.
Experts recommend using a password which is at least 20 characters long which mixes numbers and letters with at least one special character.
#5 Only Give Your Payment Information To Secure Sites
Online shopping is one of the greatest parts of the internet. However, it’s also risky to give your credit card information to someone who could take advantage of it. Only purchase from websites which are secure sites.
What are you doing to keep yourself safe online?
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