eCommerce has seen a massive rise over the past 12 months, with the COVID-19 lockdowns forcing most of us to find new ways to shop, exacerbating already established trends away from physical stores and towards more advanced, streamlined online buying.
This has significant benefits – but there are also inherent dangers within the process, particularly in regards to sharing your information online, where it can be accessed by third parties.
As we’ve seen in the media, hackers are getting more brazen in their efforts, even shutting down entire companies and holding them to ransom to get their data back. With this in mind, it’s worth taking some extra precautions with your online safety – which is where these simple tips from Custom Writing can help.
And while you’re likely already aware of most of these pointers, it’s worth the reminder, and there may even be a couple that you hadn’t considered.
Some Internet Safety Tips
All of these threats seem quite dangerous to your privacy, don’t they? What can you do to protect yourself from cyber-attacks? You don’t have to become an IT expert. Just following a few simple rules is enough.
Use strong passwords.
Considering how much information we provide online, passwords are our first line of defense against data thieves. Some users could have their whole lives ruined if their accounts were hacked. But how many of us have a good enough memory to use a different password for every account we have? Using the same password or simple combinations, like dates of birth, is dangerous.
A good password needs to contain: Numbers, Capital letters, Unique signs
There are tools that can make this process easier. For example, password generators provide you with solid and secure passwords in just a few seconds.
Don’t share personal data on your social media accounts.
Sharing pictures of major life events or everyday moments on social media may seem fairly innocent. However, you should probably be more careful. Everyone has access to that information. Skilled cybercriminals have no trouble tracking down your relationships and other details about your life. They may use what they find to trick your friends into giving up sensitive information. It’s not hard to find out dates of birth, email addresses, interests, and details about family members, which makes it even easier for hackers to break into your account.
Visit only secure websites.
Sometimes, website content may seem too appealing not to visit. You might even go ahead and create a profile, sharing your personal information. You should be careful, though, because not all websites are safe places. Who knows what malicious programs and scams are hidden there? Before doing anything, make sure you check the website address. URLs beginning with “https” are safer than ones with “http” because the letter “s” stands for security. Another thing to look out for is a small lock sign near the URL. Nowadays, web browsers are able to recognize safe websites and mark them as secure with this sign.
Use legitimate software: Yes, we understand that it carries a high price tag, but do you really want to take risks? Going to unsafe websites and using third parties to get free software is not the best idea nor the most ethical practice. Whenever you want to get an app or a program, you should do it through an official provider’s website, whether or not you pay. This ensures the authenticity of the software. Otherwise, you risk downloading a virus or malicious program instead. Don’t forget to keep everything updated!
Be careful when using credit cards: It is estimated that for every $100 spent by credit card users, about $10 is lost due to fraud. There are many dangers in using your cards for online shopping, but these tips will help you avoid those traps. First of all, try not to use debit cards that are directly linked to your bank account, and use only one card to purchase things online. Another thing to consider is adding a second layer of protection, which is usually offered by your bank. For example, not only will you be asked to put in a password, but a code sent to your email or phone will be required. Lastly, don’t forget to check if the website is safe.
Use two-step verification: It’s easy for hackers to guess your password and steal your personal data unless they have to verify that they are the rightful owners. How is this done? The most common solution is a process called two-step verification. For example, Google offers this option to all of its users. Instead of simply typing in your password, you also need to enter a code that is sent to your phone in order to log in to your account. Many websites and services offer these security measures (such as banks, which we highlighted in the previous tip).
Steer clear of phishing scams: Chances are that at least once in your life, you have received a message with questionable content. Keep an eye out for similar ones and never respond or click on any links! Typically, the message contains some irresistible offer or could allegedly be sent from a website you trust. Sometimes, they can appear as notifications about an issue, calling for you to take some action. It is essential to recognize whether the sender of these messages is someone you actually know. Always remember to follow the tips described above, such as using two-step verification and legitimate software.
Keep your home network safe: Even if you don’t work from home, it is still vital to ensure the security of your network. Sometimes, routers can be hacked. To prevent this from happening, you should follow these simple steps.
After getting a router from your provider, make sure you change its name and password. It is not hard to do by yourself, and such a measure can provide additional security.
It is also a good idea to see whether your new router has the most recent security protocols since these make it harder for cybercriminals to hack into it.
Don’t forget to log out: The convenience of staying logged in to your favorite websites is high, but it is dangerous for the security of your personal information. Not only can online services keep you logged in at all times, but they can also save all of your data. Sometimes, websites don’t even ask if you want them to remember passwords. We know that it is more difficult to enter long passwords every time you enter a website, especially from your phone, but this provides additional security. Think about these issues carefully and determine your priorities. We are only here to help you.
To sum up, in today’s world, you need to stay alert even when you are at home using your laptop. Being aware of the ways hackers steal your sensitive data is essential. Besides, we highly recommend making good use of the tips we provided in this article. You can start making your online life safer right now!
Culled From https://custom-writing.org/blog/staying-safe-online
