Online security is not limited to the above mentioned methods only. We have mentioned the most crucial and applicable methods to safeguard you online that are easy to implement and can save you thousands of dollars or for example from the embarrassment of leaking of personal photos.
1. Make sure you download from credible websites.
One of the easiest ways for hackers to steal your data is to try make you download applications that are actually malware! These malwares may be embedded in the app you download, they may hide it in applications which naturally appeal people such as a latest game or advanced utility apps that promise to optimize your system.
When downloading apps make sure you’re doing it from a credible and trusted website
2. Shopping online? Think twice
When you’re making online purchases it is obvious that you will have to provide a lot of personal details. Your credit card and banking information, your numbers and address, which not only poses a cyber-threat to you but such information could also lead to criminals actually knowing where you exactly live. To make sure the website is secure its address will be starting from HTTPS rather than just HTTP.
3. Keep your antivirus on auto update
As countless viruses are created everyday antivirus companies are working tirelessly to protect their users from viruses. Even though an antivirus software might not be the complete solution for your online security, but it does provide you security against threats, viruses and fix them or at the very least notify you.
It is therefore highly recommended to keep your anti-virus software on auto update and schedule regular scanning.
4. Bluetooth not in use? Turn it off
Apart from using Bluetooth for your music system, calling and wireless keyboards etc. It poses a threat to your security as it continuously looks for new connections unless you’ve chosen to keep it hidden.
Bluetooth essentially keeps asking everything around it if they’re available for a Bluetooth connection but then there are exploits like ‘BlueBorne’ that can provide hackers and attackers to gain access to your device without you even knowing it.
Therefore, it’s highly advisable to turn your Wi-Fi off when it’s not in use.
5. Create complex and unpredictable passwords
Your password is as important the homes lock, in fact in this cyber age it is even more important. To make things easy people tend to use their birthdays, phone number, child’s name or their anniversary date or the worst “12345678”.
Your password should not be predictable and should have a mixture of number, upper and lowercase letters and special characters and should be at least 8-15 characters long.
If keeping track of your passwords is difficult for you, there are many software that help you manage your password so that you do not forget them.
6. Connect to a VPN when using public Wi-Fi
Let’s face it, we all love free things! Even if we have a huge limitless internet package we’ll still opt for free Wi-Fi at a café.
If you must use a public Wi-Fi, make sure you have a top VPN service enabled on your device so cybercriminals and hackers can’t even eye on you!
7. Keep your browser on auto update
Many leading browsers continuously work on improving their security services, mostly updates are presented when a potential threat is discovered by the company, and therefore it is advised to either keep your browser on auto update or if that feature is not available do it manually from time to time.
8. Turnoff the auto Wi-Fi feature
Ever noticed you enter a shopping mall or café and automatically your phone’s notifications start popping up! This is your phones auto Wi-Fi feature, while it does provide utility and is considered a smart feature, it also enables cybercriminals to access your device.
To fool you criminals may use the same name and password as the one publically available, as your phone saves the name and password next time you’re near a fake Wi-Fi name with the same password your device will auto connect to it.
It’s best advisable to turn auto Wi-Fi feature off.
9. Use credible browser extensions
Browser extensions are important and make it very easy to use certain services on the internet such as blocking ad pop ups and offering auto correct for Gmail.
Luring users with such utilities, cybercriminals can attack your system by capturing your passwords and inserting malware.
When choosing extensions always go for trusted sources such as Google, Firefox and Microsoft.
