We’re in a whole new age of the internet, in case you didn’t know, defined by faster connections, interconnectivity between devices, data-collection, AI, and a range of other new and exciting new technologies. Amongst all of these developments, it can be all too easy for the safety of the user to become lost somewhere in the mix.
Here, we’re going to look at the combination of safety tips that you should be following to ensure that you’re as safe on the internet as you can be.
Viruses, spyware, and malware
While they might have seemed a lot more prevalent in the past, malware, such as viruses and spyware, are still a serious threat. The recent rash of ransomware attacks should show that, for instance. As such, you should always make sure that your device is thoroughly protected with a high-quality anti-malware software.
Nowadays, there are those who will assure you that the default anti-viruses that come with devices, for instance with Windows PCs and laptops, are just as good as the premium paid services out there, and they certainly are a lot better than they used to be. What’s most important, however, is that you keep your device updated so that they’re always protected against the latest threats.
Keeping control of your accounts
Your online safety isn’t just about what does or doesn’t get on your device. Most people who use the internet on a regular basis will also have online tools and accounts that they access, use, and share data with. Whether it’s social media, shopping accounts, or otherwise, you want to make sure that would-be criminals can’t easily gain access to these accounts and one of the best ways to do that is to learn how to set up 2 factor authentication.
This manner of authentication requires you to make use of another device, such as your phone, or another account, such as your email, to verify that it is, indeed, you, trying to access your account. As such, stealing your password to your account wouldn’t be enough to break into it anymore. You should enable 2 factor authentication (or 2FA) wherever it’s possible.
What about password managers?
Speaking of stealing your passwords, you should also do what you can to stop that from happening, even if it’s not as world-ending an event as it might have been at one point. One way that you can do this is by using password managers that can generate and save passwords for you. The only potential issue with this is that if you don’t turn off the auto-complete, then anyone who accesses your logged-in terminal (such as your PC or laptop) may be able to log in to accounts that have passwords saved for them.
As such, you can turn off auto-complete and instead reference the password manager’s database, which should make use of a unique password that you set. In essence, you only really need to remember the password that gets you into the database. You should also do your research on which password managers you use, however, as there are some that have become somewhat notorious for data breaches.
Get a VPN
One of the modern tools that have become fundamental for those seeking total online security is the virtual private network or VPN. These tools use other terminals as rally points when you connect online, hiding your location and device from the sites and tools that you access. They can also protect against those looking to tap into your connection by encrypting the data that you send and receive, even on public or semi-public networks. A good VPN can help you protect your data and make sure that it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Be mindful of what you share
Of course, a lot of the data that criminals and other malicious actors use come directly from the people who they are trying to scam or infiltrate, themselves. For one, you should always be mindful of how much of your life and personal information, including your current location, you share on social media, and who is able to view that social media. You should also keep up to date on things like phishing scams to get a good idea of the latest threats and deceits out there.
Safety online should always be a priority, meaning that as technology changes, so too should you look at what new ways you should be used to secure yourself. After all, you never know what kind of threats might be lurking around the corner, too.
