You’ve probably been hearing about Internet safety and security tips for years, and most people know the basics: don’t give out your password to anyone, choose reputable places to make purchases online, etc.
But, it’s when we all think we know the safety rules that it becomes easier to slip up. Sometimes, all it takes is a little reminder or refresher course to make sure you’re truly staying safe online.
With that in mind, let’s go over three tips you can use to make sure you’re secure when you’re browsing the web.
Staying Safe Online – 3 Internet Safety Tips to Be More Secure
1. Use a Secure Connection
Whether you’re home, using your computer as you travel for work, or you’re browsing on your mobile device, security is your best friend. One of the best options, when you have to use public WiFi, is to instead use your own VPN (Virtual Private Network).
A VPN allows you to have your own private server that no one else can access. No one can see what you’re doing online, and as a result, no one can steal your information.
There are so many VPN providers to choose from, and it’s all about picking the one that fits your individual needs. Sites like troypoint.com can help you to decide which VPN interface is right for you.
2. Be Diligent With Downloads
Cybercriminals have become increasingly savvy over the years. While you might think it’s easy to spot malware or something fishy, that isn’t always the case. It’s easy to get lured into clicking something or downloading something you think will be useful, only to find out it’s a program that can steal your information.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid downloading anything that comes from a site you don’t trust, or anything that looks suspicious. Do your research! A quick Google search will likely help you to know if what you’re about to download is malicious or not, based on other people’s experiences.
3. Choose a Strong Password
Again, you probably already know not to share your password with anyone, but it’s also important to make sure your password is strong enough. That means including letters, numbers, and special characters that would be hard for someone to crack.
It also means choosing a password that isn’t easy to guess. Avoid using things like your children’s’ names, your birth date, or any other notable words or names that would mean something in your life. It’s often easy for hackers to get information about you, and if your passwords can somehow relate to that information, they’ll be able to log in to your accounts rather quickly.
Additionally, you can create several different passwords for different accounts, instead of having the same one for everything. There are several apps available that can create and manage passwords for you, making it easy to have everything stored in one place without having to remember it.
The Internet is an amazing tool, there’s no doubt about it. But, we’ve become so used to it in our culture that it’s easy to forget about the precautions you should take on a daily basis. Take these reminders to heart when you’re browsing today, and stay safe out there!
Ciao,
Miss Kemya
