The Internet is simply incredible, noone can deny that. We use it to learn new skills, make money with blogging, videos, etc. and to stay connected to our friends and loved ones. However, the problem is that it’s not exactly a safe place. Dangers to your security and privacy lurk behind countless websites and web services. So what can you do to keep these risks at bay?
The following are some of the things that you can do to make Internet browsing safer and private:
Use Antivirus Programs
Antivirus software protects your computer and mobile devices from malware and other security threats. There are all kinds of malicious programs that can harm you computer. Spyware that can collect sensitive details like your bank account login information or your email passwords, or ransomware which can lock your device with an advanced encryption layer and demand a ransom for its removal. This is why, investing in the best antivirus program can be one of your best decisions. It can detect and remove existing viruses from your devices and also prevent new programs that can harm your computer from installation.
Use VPN
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. As the name suggests, it’s a virtual Internet connection that can be used on top of an existing connection, to enjoy greater privacy and security. The facility is readily available with products like Windscribe and TunnelBear.
When you go online after activating a VPN service then you are able to hide the data that you receive and send from your system. This happens with a process called tunnelling-your data is transmitted through a virtual tunnel so that its accessible only by you and the person who is present at the end of this tunnel i.e. the receiving system.
Note: For the highest level of security, it is highly recommended that you use both antivirus programs like Bitdefender and VPN services.
Get Educated
The more aware you are of all the security risks on the Internet, the more you can protect yourself from data breaches, virus attacks, frauds, etc.
There are some major online threats that you need to be aware of, one of which is phishing attacks. In this, a fraud person sends you an email masquerading as a representative of your bank or a government organization. They typically try to raise an alarm by falsely informing that your bank account or some other financial account is being hacked and you have to change your password to prevent the cybercriminal from stealing your money. They recommend that you change your password immediately, and they share a link that you should use for this. However, this link takes you to a fraud website that looks like your bank’s legitimate website. Unaware of this, you may share sensitive information with this website. This information is instantly shared with the cybercriminal and they can use it to access your account and transfer the funds to theirs.
There are many other online threats that you should read about vis-a-vis ransomware, social engineering, etc. The good news is that the solutions and prevention methods for them are easy. Taking phishing attacks, for instance, you can configure a view in Outlook to prevent becoming a victim. In the same way, you can prevent social engineering attacks by performing background checks when approached by suspicious strangers online.
Use Wi-Fi Connections with Care
It’s not uncommon for people to use public wi-fi networks when they are traveling or spending extended periods of time in cafés or restaurants. However, there are risks to using these public wi-fi networks. For instance, there is the man-in-the-middle attack in which the data you share with a public wi-fi can be shared with a third party, i.e. a hacker who has tapped into the connection. Hackers can also easily use public connections to infect your devices with malware.
If you don’t want to risk your privacy and security, then it’s highly recommended that you avoid using public wi-fi connections unless you absolutely trust the place. It’s better to use your own mobile data whenever possible, or you can also wait until you go back home if you need to be online.
Bottom Line
We spend a lot of time on the Internet in today’s era. However, when you visit your favorite websites, then you want peace of mind that you are safe and that your data is completely secure. This can’t be achieved unless you do your homework and take the appropriate steps. Consider the information above as the foundation of your online privacy. If you will apply what you learned here, then you will be able to keep most of the online threats at bay.