In this day and age, people use the internet for just about anything. Most have access to it at all times, literally at their fingertips. So staying safe is essential whether it’s for online banking, zoom calls, social media, or anything else. Not only do you want to prevent things like identity theft, you don’t want your banking account hacked, and if you have children, you want to ensure they are safe from online predators.
Have Up to Date Antivirus and Security Measures
One of the most important things you can do is ensure your devices have anti-viruses installed that are up to date and run regularly. You should also keep tabs on significant internet breaches. In these attacks, hackers access many people’s personal information, including social security numbers, bank accounts, and more. This can be a nightmare to figure out and untangle.
Most of the time, these data breaches can be avoided by applying the AWS security best practice. This is the system that large companies use to protect data people upload to the cloud on their system. This is where many breaches happen, so it’s crucial to have many security measures in place.
As a consumer, you can ensure your computers, tablets, and smartphones have a legitimate antivirus installed. Some breaches and viruses can happen behind the scenes, meaning someone could be accessing your information in the background while you are doing other things on your computer. Keep your antivirus updated so you are protected from the newest threats.
Don’t Share Personal Information With Untrusted Websites
Spoof websites often impersonate legitimate websites, gaining access to your information when you try to log in. Make sure that anytime you visit a website, your browser marks it as secure with a padlock, and look to see if the website has a trust seal. These are two of the easiest and surefire ways to know whether a website is legitimate.
Create Strong Passwords
You need a solid, strong password for all websites you visit. Your password requires a series of letters and numbers, as well as symbols, if the website allows it. Consider choosing a different password for each website, and try to change it once every couple of months.
Your device will often be able to generate a series of letters and numbers that you can use as a password. These codes are random, making them far less easy to guess. Just make sure you have a copy of your password written down somewhere in case you need to access the website on a different device.
Skip Automatic Log In
Many sites offer to remember your password once logged in if you are on a personal device. While this can be convenient and save time, it can also be dangerous. Never save your password on a shared or public device, and think twice before allowing it on your personal devices. If someone steals your device, they gain access to your personal information.
Protect Your Children
These days, most children have or want a smartphone. This gives them access to the internet, social media, and more. In addition, it makes it easier for predators to access them. Setting rules and ensuring they are followed can help keep them safe.
For example, consider blocking access to social media until they are old enough to understand how to be safe. Then, when they have access, put safety measures in place. This might include setting their social media apps to only let them interact with friends, setting time limits, or putting parental controls on devices that do not allow access to mature content.
The internet is a fun and handy tool, but it’s essential to do what you can to stay safe. While some of these measures seem like common sense, it is imperative you remember the importance of these safety measures. If you don’t, you are more likely to deal with identity theft or someone gaining access to your bank account.