Americans are being hit with cyber attacks left and right, which is making the internet a little scary. One reason some people are vulnerable to cyber attacks is because they are not taking internet security precautions. The following are simple tips and tools that could help you surf safely.
People First
It is easy to think that internet security is all about installing malware security and other forms of firewalls, but the fact is that it also relies on you. Learning how to protect yourself from cyber security is one of the most effective ways to truly stay safe.
There are a few basics that you should learn. For example, understand that there are strangers online. It is important to avoid divulging information that is too personal. This could include old addresses, social security number, phone numbers, or even the names of close friends.
Email Safety
Sometimes an attack comes from something as simple as an email. It is important that you do not open emails from people or companies you do not recognize. Consider everything dangerous until you can confirm it is coming from a source that you know. Now, it is important to note that some hackers pose as popular companies, so make sure that you confirm that the email you are seeing is directly from the company by chatting with someone on the company's site just in case.
You want to be especially careful about emails asking you to download photographs, pdf files, or programs. All of these could be programs trying to steal your information. Again, try to confirm that what was sent is safe by ensuring it is from a trusted source before you actually download it. This might seem excessive, but it sure beats the alternative, which puts your personal information at risk.
Digital Shields
A lot of what you need to do is protect yourself against cyber attacks, but you should still install software to protect yourself from attacks. Good malware software should definitely be helpful as well as a virus protection program. It might also be a good idea to ensure that these programs come with scanning software so that you can scan your system from time to time.
You will need encryption tools to ensure that the data on your computer is encrypted. This software uses cryptography in order to keep hackers from gaining access to private information. In other words, your information is going to look like a series of symbols and signs, making it impossible to decipher the information on your personal devices. You can also talk to a computer specialist to see if he or she has additional preventative programs for you to install on your devices.
Update Danger
Most people allow the programs installed on devices to update themselves. This is a setting that could be changed, but it also makes it harder to update manually. You can be honest here. Admit that you really do not want to do that, and you may not even have time to check your programs every day to see if there is a new update to install.
Those who allow programs to update automatically may see a window pop-up telling you to update or ask your permission to proceed. This is relatively normal, but the problem is that hackers use this to their advantage. They might send pop-ups that look familiar expecting you to simply install the programs. It is best to avoid installing updates, and simply go to the program directly to initiate the updates on your own.
Passwords and All
You have probably heard people suggesting that you change your passwords. This is a very important step to improve your overall security, and it is a pretty simple one, too. You should change your passwords every few months. You can make it a universal password for simplicity, but make sure that your password is not something that can easily be guessed. You want to stay away from birthdays, the names of loved ones, or social security numbers.
What you want to do is add symbols or numbers to your passwords. It might even be a good idea to use simple words with no real meaning behind them as passwords along with additional special characters. Be sure that you write down your new password, and place it in a safe location. It is okay to rotate some of your passwords so that you do not have to come up with a new combination of characters every few months, which can get tiring after some time.
Wi-Fi Dangers
Everyone likes to connect to a shared network because you get to use data without using up the internet you pay for. You might do this at a coffee shop, the library, or even at a friend's place. The problem is that connecting your device to a shared network makes you more vulnerable to hacks. You want to make sure you have taken all the precautions mentioned earlier when connecting to these networks to be safe.
Furthermore, you also want to make sure that you do not sign in to any of your personal accounts, such as your email accounts. It might also be a good idea to stay away from your bank accounts or any other website that you consider personal. There could be someone lurking within the shared network waiting for someone to log into personal accounts in order to steal important information. You may be able to avoid this problem by simply abstaining from these sites when you are on a shared network.
Of course, there are many more steps that you can take in order to be safer online, but these should guide you in the right direction. Try to implement at least one of these suggestions at a time so it does not feel so overwhelming. Be sure to not take this lightly because hackers are out there, and they can use your carelessness to steal your identity, which is a headache no one needs.
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