Moving into the digital age, online security is more important than ever. This is because hackers always look for any chance to steal your personal information. Hackers want access to your credit card numbers, social security numbers, and other private information that they can use to steal money from your bank account.
You need to take proactive steps to help safeguard your online security. Here are five tips to help enhance your online security.
Do Not Share Your Password
A password is a key to your online security and privacy. If you share it with someone else, you are giving access to all of your accounts. If they get hacked, or something happens to your computer, they could easily access all of your personal information or steal money from your bank account.
If you have a shared computer, make sure that everyone who uses it has a unique user name and password set up for each person who uses it.
Always Logout From Your Accounts
One of the best ways to enhance your online security is to always log out from your accounts. It may seem small, but it’s essential for two reasons.
First, if someone manages to get into your account, they can see what you’ve been doing online and steal personal information from your account. Second, if someone manages to get into your account and download all of your passwords, they’ll also have access to everything else you have on the Internet.
When logged in to any website or service, always log out before leaving the page or service. It will prevent anyone who has already access to that site from seeing what you do while on it.
Avoid Public Networks
When you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, your data is vulnerable to theft and getting monitored by anyone with access to the network. This includes people using the same network as you, such as in a coffee shop or library, and people who have installed malicious software on their computers and are using them to spy on others.
To protect yourself from this attack, use a virtual private network (VPN) when connecting to public networks such as airport or hotel Wi-Fi. A VPN encrypts all of your online activity and routes it through an encrypted tunnel so that no one other than the VPN service provider can see what you’re doing online.
Check Permissions Before Installing an App
The best way to ensure your apps are secure is to check permissions before installing them. While it might sound complex, it isn’t. If the app requires specific consent and you don’t have it, it will notify you that it can’t do what it’s supposed to do because of a lack of permissions.
For example, if an app needs access to your location or contacts and you don’t allow it, the app won’t be able to use these features. Or, if an app needs access to your contacts, but you don’t allow this feature in general, then there is no way for the app to use it.
Do Not Share Personal Information Online
The basic rule of online safety is not to share personal information online. Including your email address, name, and other information sufficient to identify you. If you want to make a purchase online, ensure the site requires an email address before they will send you the confirmation. And if you share information with someone on social media, ensure they have verified their identity.
Encrypt Data on Your Computer
Encrypting your data on your computer is one of the best ways to protect your online accounts. Here are some tips for encrypting data:
- Make sure you have an encryption program installed. Most operating systems come with an encryption program built in. Still, if yours does not, it’s easy to download one from a third party. It will ensure that all your most sensitive data remains safe from prying eyes.
- Rename any files containing personal information and passwords so they no longer appear in search engines or other places that might be accessible by hackers.
- Use an encrypted email service if you have sensitive information that needs to pass over the internet without anyone looking at it first – especially if there’s no way to control who can access it once it leaves your computer!
Watch Out for Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are one of the biggest threats to your online security. Phishing is when criminals send you a message or email that looks like it’s from someone you trust, but it’s actually from a scammer.
A phishing scam aims to get you to hand over personal information or money in exchange for something you believe will make you look good — like a free gift card, rewards points, or early access to a new product.
You can protect yourself against phishing scams by following these tips:
- Be skeptical of emails and links from people you don’t know or trust.
- Check with your bank or credit card company before giving out any personal information online.
- Never click on a link without doing some research first — even if it looks like it comes from someone you know.
Use Third-Party Apps That You Can Trust
The first step toward improving your online security is to stop using third-party apps that have a history of hacking or sending your personal information to unknown parties. These apps aren’t always malicious but can act without your knowledge or consent.
For example, if you use a banking app on your phone connected to a bank account, the information stored in this app could fall into the hands of hackers who have gained access to the server where the bank stores this information.
If someone hacks into this server, they could potentially steal any data, including passwords and financial documents like checks or credit card numbers.
You don’t want your personal financial information stolen by anyone, so before using any banking app, check it out thoroughly first by visiting the developer’s website.
Malware and Antivirus Software
Most people think of malware as a virus that can harm your computer. However, it’s also possible to get malware by clicking on a link in an email or a search engine.
Antivirus software is an essential part of cyber security. It checks for malware and blocks it before it infects your system. Most antivirus programs also have firewall features that help protect your PC from other types of threats like spam and phishing websites.
Some antivirus programs offer more features than others, so read the reviews before buying one.
Spam Filtering
Spam filtering is one of the most important aspects of maintaining your online security. Spam is any message that you do not want to receive. It can be anything from unsolicited advertisements to email messages that promote other websites or products.
The best way to prevent spam filters from blocking your legitimate email messages is by creating a list of trusted senders/receivers. Usually, you can do this through your email program or with a service such as SpamCop.
Once you have created a list of trusted senders and receivers, it’s time to set up spam filters to prevent unsolicited emails from getting through to you.
Stay Safe Now!
Just as there are several ways to keep your physical security in check, there are numerous things you can do to help secure your online presence. Some of these steps might be obvious, while others may seem esoteric—but they all play a vital role in protecting yourself and those who rely on you.