For social networking, online learning, remote employment, and many forms of entertainment, the majority of us rely significantly on the internet. But frequent use does not imply widespread understanding.
The good news is that staying secure online is easy to do. We’ve compiled some of the best pieces of advise below to be of assistance.
Let’s go over the best internet safety advice for grownups.
Keep your private information offline
But if your personal information is not accessible online, thieves cannot access it or steal it.
Because of this, some information, like your Social Security Number, should never be uploaded to the internet. If you do need to share it, make sure to encrypt the file before sending it and send it as an email attachment.
Make sure a website is trustworthy
By January 17, 2021, Google has identified approximately 2 million phishing websites. But how can you distinguish a trustworthy website from a dubious one? The address line should have a small padlock at the beginning, indicating that the connection is encrypted. Look at that first.
Review a website’s appearance and feel next. The following factors can help determine whether a website is secure to use:
Pages display clean formatting and are error-free.
The body text’s and address line’s grammar are both correct.
The graphics all properly suit the width of the screen.
Ads are natural and don’t overshadow the primary content.
The website is probably safe to use if it satisfies all of these requirements.
Create a solid password
Strong, original passwords are an excellent way to secure yourself online. A combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters should be used in strong passwords, which should include at least 12 symbols. Passwords with fewer than 10 characters can be broken in about an hour, according to a recent cybersecurity study. However, it will take around a year to break those with at least 12 characters (and 15-character passwords will withstand a millenium of brute-force attacks).
Use one of the password generators available online if you don’t want to worry about coming up with a unique combination of symbols for your password.
Put two-factor authentication to use
Two-factor authentication, also known as 2FA, is used to add an extra layer of security to your account. When using 2FA, you must also input an extra code that was previously produced or given to your device in addition to the correct password. Even if someone manages to guess your password, they won’t be able to access your profile without this extra code.
Avoid suspicious online links
You should stay away from some types of internet information, such as spam emails, dubious links from unreliable sources, online quizzes, tabloid headers, “free” offers, and unsolicited advertisements.
The text won’t refer to the file if the email attachment is malicious. Instead, the message will merely ask the recipient to open the attached file and provide feedback.
Make sure the text and any related links on a website are all about the same thing. If, after clicking a link to learn more about polar bears, you instead discover a “success story” about a famous person who quit smoking or lost weight over night, you will likely swiftly exit the page.
Keep your computer updated
Use the most recent versions of your operating systems and applications. especially if your payment, health, or other critical information is contained in these apps. Developers are always trying to make products safe, keeping an eye on the most recent threats and releasing security fixes when vulnerabilities are found. Accept their efforts, frequently update your software, and take responsibility for your own security.
Free WiFi and downloads should be avoided.
The most frequent sources of online security issues are free downloads, online services, or Wi-Fi networks. If you choose to use a free option, make sure it has a solid reputation. If you Google the name of the software or service, you will likely discover reviews detailing how it performs.
Free public Wi-Fi is not always secure, but there are instances when we must use it immediately. Do not use free Wi-Fi to access your bank accounts or make purchases. If you must do this, safeguard the data you send over the unsafe network by using VPN software. Any critical transactions should be put off until you get home if they are not urgent.
Double-checking online data
In the deluge of internet information we see on a daily basis, it’s simple to get lost. If something seems suspect, investigate it further to determine the truth or, at the very least, form your own opinion. References to the original information source should be present on trustworthy websites. Pages that are suspect won’t provide any references at all.
To secure your internet access, use a VPN.
By disguising your IP address, a VPN protects the privacy of your online connection. Additionally, it conceals any confidential information that you send across that could be compromised, such as bank account information when shopping online.
Utilize cybersecurity tools
In situations where adhering to the aforementioned guidelines is insufficient, a trustworthy cybersecurity solution will give you an additional layer of protection.