As more and more people are accessing the internet these days, the risks of fraud, identity theft, and physical harm are growing quickly. Social media applications loom larger in our online interactions than websites. However, this does not mean that the basic safety rules have changed.
Hackers are still finding out ways to look out for personal information so that they can use it to access your bank information and credit card details. Secondly, with hacks, malware, and frauds, the internet appears to be a dangerous place for most of us, and the proliferation of the internet to almost all our devices has opened us up to even greater risks.
Nevertheless, by taking a handful of security measures, you can reduce your exposure to all these threats. Whether you have Spectrum, Mediacom, or Xfinity internet, this is what you need to do:
Create complex passwords
You might have heard before that creating a strong and unique password for your critical accounts can keep your personal and financial information secure. Well, yes! This is true especially when we are in the era of widespread corporate hacks where a breach in one database can make tens of thousands of users at bay.
Therefore, create a strong password that contains a mixture of upper and lower case letters.
Secondly, make sure you have turned on multi-step authentication for all your accounts. For example, while logging into your account, it will also send a text message on your phone with the code that needs to be entered with the password.
Boost your network security with a VPN
You can boost your network security by installing a virtual private network on your laptops and smartphones. The benefit of a VPN is that it ensures confidentiality and encrypts your data. Even if anyone tries to snoop on your network, they will not be able to identify what you are transmitting.
However, you do not need a VPN at home or work as the router is password protected. However, when you are in a mall or coffee shop, you might be tempted to use a public Wi-Fi hotspot, which is not safe. This means it becomes relatively easy for the hack to access your device. Therefore, always use a VPN for public hotspots.
Make sure the firewall is active
No matter how secure your network is, you should still use a firewall. The firewall blocks unauthorized access to your devices and is often included in security software. Installing a firewall will ensure that all the devices connected to your network are secure even devices such as security cameras.
This is crucial, as your security cameras are not equipped with security measures.
Practice safe browsing
Growing up, all of us are told to avoid dangerous neighborhoods and the same rules apply online. Always open trusted websites as hackers use lucid content as bait. They understand that people can be tempted by dubious content and are more likely to put their guard down while looking it up online.
The internet is full of pitfalls that are hard to see and one careless click can expose our private data and information. By resisting the urge, the hackers stand no chance.
Use secure sites for online purchases
Whenever you are making a purchase online that needs you to fill in credit card or bank account information, make sure you use trusted sites. Cybercriminals are most eager to get their hands on your credit card or bank account information. It is easy to identify secure sites by looking for an address starting with “https:” instead of “HTTP:” (s stands for secure). Secured sites are always marked with a padlock icon next to our address bar.
Click Smart
With all these smart tech measures in place, you can still fall prey to careless clicking. We see dozens of ads every day on the internet such as spam emails, online quizzes, and free offers. Hackers use these tactics to entice you to click on these links and you might end up giving your personal information.
Invest in an Antivirus program
Internet security software will protect you against every threat but you still need an antivirus to detect and remove malware. Make sure that the antivirus you have is up to date as it gives you an extra layer of security.
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