There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself from hackers, scammers, and other malicious actors who may try to take advantage of you and your personal information. In this article, we'll look at the six best practices for staying safe online.
1. Use a virtual private network (VPN)
Through unprotected Wi-Fi, hackers can easily steal your passwords and credit card numbers. You'll need a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to stay safe online (VPN). An encrypted VPN connection will keep all of your private data secure and out of reach of any potential hackers, regardless of where you connect from.
It's especially important when logging into your favorite websites where anyone nearby might be able to access that information with little more than a browser plugin like Firesheep. There are many free options out there but make sure they encrypt traffic on both ends and not just at one endpoint.
2. Enable two-factor authentication on all your devices
Two-factor authentication, for example, two-step verification used on WhatsApp is frequently overlooked, but it is one of the simplest ways to stay secure online.
This form of authentication requires users to provide another form of identification after the initial identification(password and username) before they can access their accounts. This usually entails generating a special code on your phone that changes every few seconds or entering an automatically generated code from an authenticator app.
This second step acts as a failsafe in case your login credentials are stolen and someone attempts to log in to your account, meaning they can't access your sensitive information even if they know what you've used for your password.
3. Avoid using public Wi-Fi
For hackers, public Wi-Fi can be a goldmine. Thieves know that most people will not bother taking security precautions when using public Wi-Fi networks, so they can take advantage of this by creating fake login pages and inserting keyloggers into seemingly trustworthy websites.
Public hotspots don't even have to actually be unprotected; so long as a hacker sees you on one, they can potentially attack your device through their own network, then hijack your login info when it passes over their connection. With that in mind, avoid logging onto sensitive accounts from any unsecured networks-public or private. Make sure you always use a VPN service when connecting to public Wi-Fi as well.
4. Avoid clicking on links you haven't double-checked
If you just click on links you see on the internet without checking if they are or are not suspicious, this can cause you problems. These problems include standing a risk of being hacked and getting your device infected by malware. Some of the licks that are sent on messaging apps can be suspicious. Having said this, avoid clicking on suspicious links. The same goes with downloading. You should download applications and files from official websites.
5. Use Anti-malware software
Anti-malware software is important as it helps avoid, detect as well as do away with viruses and any other forms of malware on your device. There are many good antivirus software on the market and some are free of charge. However, you should always download and install such applications from trusted sites or official sites. You don't want to install software that's harmful on your device.
6. Keep your phone secure
Many of us spend our days checking social media, email, and whatever else with our smartphones. While it's fine to do so in moderation, you should always secure your phone with a passcode or fingerprint. And if you're concerned about who has access to your phone when you're not around, set up remote wipe software on it.
This way, even if someone gets their hands on your unlocked device they won't be able to access any sensitive information without knowing your password or finger pattern first. Another great practice is using a privacy filter on your laptop or tablet screen when using public Wi-Fi-just make sure it's no one nearby can see what you're typing.
Conclusion
Use common sense and caution when surfing, emailing, or chatting online. Don't give away any personal information to people you don't know -that includes your birthday, hometown, phone number, address, and credit card numbers. And use security software that blocks out viruses and other harmful code. The good thing is that most firewalls are included with operating systems today. Most importantly always be aware of how much personal information you provide over a network.
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