Whether you use the internet to game, shop, or keep up with friends and family on social media, it’s important to follow the best safety practices.
Why? Because cybercrime is on the rise. According to the US Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, 1 in 3 homes with computers is infected with malicious software, 47% of American adults have had their personal information exposed by cyber criminals, and 600,000 Facebook accounts are hacked every single day.
To ensure you don’t become part of another cybercrime statistic, here are seven things you can do:
- Don’t share personal information online
Avoid sharing personal information like birth dates, addresses, or your mother’s maiden name on the internet.
If such information gets into the wrong hands, someone could use it to steal your identity and gain access to your bank accounts and other assets.
This is especially true when it comes to social media. Be careful about what you share, even casually. And don’t accept friend requests from those you don’t know. They could be trying to collect personal information from you with malicious intent.
- Set strong passwords
Another way to stay safe online is to set strong passwords. This means making them at least eight characters long and including a good mix of upper and lower case letters as well as numbers and symbols. The more unique your password, the better.
You also want to change your passwords periodically and never use the same password twice. That way, they’re harder for hackers to crack. This is cybersecurity 101.
- Use the latest version of your web browser
Sometimes software bugs are found in web browsers that present a security vulnerability. Web browser companies like Google and Firefox will then send out web browser updates to fix these.
Stay on top of web browser updates to ensure you have the latest, most secure version and get all the benefits of their built-in protection against cyber attacks.
- Secure your internet connection
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to eliminate all risks when using the internet. However, there are many things you can do to secure your internet connection.
These include protecting your Wi-Fi network with a password, installing a firewall, anti-virus, and anti-malware software, using end-to-end encryption when sending messages and sharing data, and avoiding the use of public Wi-Fi networks, especially when working with sensitive information.
- Read website privacy policies
Most websites these days have a pop-up window asking you to accept their data privacy policy. While it can be a pain to read through these, you really should if you’re not already familiar with the site.
Why? Privacy policies tell you how your personal information will be used (e.g. for advertising). If you don’t understand or agree with the policy (or worse yet, the site doesn’t have one), consider not using the site.
- Log out from services when done
Anytime you finish a browsing session, it’s important to log out of any and all accounts. Never leave an account logged in or others will be able to see what you may not want them to. What’s more, they’ll have access to change account information or post things on your behalf (like on social media).
- Beware of phishing scams
Lastly, beware of phishing scams. This refers to fraudulent emails or sites that try to get you to share private account or login information. Usually, this is done by sending you a link to click on or an attachment to open. Once you do, the bad actor infects your computer with malware to steal your login credentials.
So never open emails or visit sites from unknown sources. Be suspicious of them and learn how to spot fake ones. If you come across anything questionable, forward it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at spam@uce.gov.
The bottom line
At the end of the day, staying safe online is critical for anyone who uses the internet. Not doing so could cost you lots of money and even ruin your reputation.
So don’t leave your online security to chance. Follow the online safety guidelines above, and you’ll be glad you did.
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