When you open your laptop or phone, what do you usually do? Do you open your browser or log in to your social media accounts? No matter what you do, you’re constantly at risk of having your data stolen and misused. This is even more dangerous given that many important accounts, like our bank accounts and credit card information, are connected online. This makes it easier for hackers to get in, steal your information, and access your money.
Of course, nobody wants this to happen to them, so we take measures to protect ourselves. But how do you know if your security is enough in the first place? Luckily, this article will discuss some things you can do to protect yourself and your information online. Let’s start.
Create a Strong Password
This is perhaps the first thing that comes to mind regarding online security, and for good reason. They are usually our first line of defense against hackers. When developing a new password, you should remember that you have to make your passwords very hard for hackers to guess.
Of course, this means that using your birthday, your kid’s graduation or your wedding anniversary is out of the question. This is especially true since this information is easily accessible on the internet. For example, let’s say your Facebook account’s password is your birthday. If you don’t know it yet, your birthday is on your profile, which can be seen by just about anyone. So, how do you make a strong password? A good formula for this is to include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers, and if the account creation allows it, you can even use symbols.
Don’t Overshare on Social Media
We all have that one friend who posts every minute of their lives on their Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. While this is not a bad thing per se, it’s pretty dangerous if you’re not checking on the information you post online. That said, you should always check the privacy settings on your social media accounts. Usually, you can change the people who can see your posts in these settings. That means that if you have specific people you don’t want to see your posts, you can just cross them out of your list.
Also, when it comes to what you post online, you might want to avoid posting critical information like your bank statements, credit or debit card, or any passwords. This might sound ridiculous because who would do that, right? As silly as it may seem, you’d be surprised by how many people post these things.
Beware of Phishing
Phishing sounds like fishing, does it? Well, that’s exactly what hackers are doing with their phishing scams. Phishing scams are tactics that let you put your personal information on a fake website so that they can access your vital information. This type of scam usually comes in the form of emails and external links.
For example, you’ll get an email from a bank that you know where you are told that your bank account is compromised. For them to fix it, you’ll have to put in your bank account information, only to figure out later that your bank account has zero dollars in it. And there you have it, you have been scammed.
Clear Your Cookies Regularly
If you’re getting up to clear your pantry of cookies, you’re getting the wrong idea. We’re not talking about the cookies that you bake. We’re talking about the cookies on your devices. Cookies are what we call login information on the sites that you visit regularly. Of course, this can range from your mundane social media account login information like your Facebook or betting account for Blackjack to more critical ones like your bank account logins.
Hackers usually use various means to obtain your cookies, login information, and access to your accounts while posing as you. Sounds scary, right? Well, it’s easy to eliminate that possibility. You must clean out your cookies regularly, especially if you’re sharing devices with someone.
Use Free WiFi With Caution
There’s no better feeling than accessing the internet with free WiFi, right? Going outside without spending data using free WiFi is good, but it’s not without risks. Public WiFi usually has very few security measures in place. This makes it easier for hackers to just come into that WiFi network and take a look at your online activities. That said, you should only use reliable Public WiFi or wait to do your online activities at home.
Final Words
The internet is a scary place. It’s full of hackers who are looking to steal your information under your nose and get access to your crucial online accounts. That said, you might want to follow the tips we discussed above so you can do your online activities all you want without the risk of being hacked. Be smart and be safe.
