9 Tips to Protect Yourself Online

We all know that the internet is a vast and ever-growing resource for information, communication, and entertainment. What we may not realize, however, is that the internet can also be a dangerous place. Every day, cybercriminals are coming up with new ways to exploit unsuspecting users and steal their personal information or money. To protect yourself online, you need to be aware of the risks and take precautions to safeguard your computer and your personal information. Here are ten tips to help you stay safe online:

1.  Install virus protection on your computer. At the very least install a traditional antivirus software to protect your computer and there are many antiviruses out there, and some are even free for personal use. There is no excuse for not having one installed on your PC. These programs aren’t just for desktops either—you can also get anti-virus software for your smartphone or tablet to protect yourself when you’re out of the house and using unsecured networks.  While traditional antivirus is readily available it is no longer considered enough security for business use.  Talk to your IT team or provider about implementing an EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) product for the next level security.
2. Use strong passwords that include upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols to protect your accounts from would-be hackers. Never share these passwords with anyone—not even friends or family members—and never write them down where others may be able to find them. You should have a list of them locked up where one person knows about them in case anything was to ever happen to you. Many people use password vaults on their PCs to help protect and store the information.
3.  Never install software unless you know for certain that it’s safe to do so. If you aren’t sure about a download, err on the side of caution and skip over it! Many forms of malware are downloaded through free programs people claim will give users access to copyrighted content like music, movies, etc., but instead, spy on your computer and steal your passwords.
4.  Keep a close eye on all your bank accounts, credit cards, and other financial information to make sure no one is taking unauthorized payments or accessing your accounts without permission. If you see something wrong, report it immediately to the company that issued the account—and if possible, try not to use that computer or open that email message again. Hackers can still access your information even after you’ve deleted the initial message!
5.   Never give out personal information in an email, especially if it asks for more than just an address to verify the authenticity of the email. Banks will never ask for passwords or account numbers by email—if they do need this information—they’ll contact you directly by phone or in writing to verify your identity before they share any details.
6.  Avoid using free wireless networks, if possible, especially in public places like restaurants and coffee shops. These networks are often unsafe for banking, shopping, or sending private information online since hackers can easily install network sniffers on these connections and read all your traffic if they’re not encrypted. If you do use the internet at a public location frequently though, be sure to check out WPA2 security settings on your machine so that it encrypts all the data moving through the connection so others can’t access it.
7.  Keep your antivirus software updated so hackers can’t find a way around it, look into additional security measures like two-factor authentication such as fingerprint scanners, USB tokens, etc., and encrypt all sensitive data saved on your computer with full-disk encryption so no one can access it without knowing the password!
8.  Don’t click links in emails from unknown users or websites unless you know they are safe to visit—even something as innocuous-sounding as “click here for a gift” could be the perfect bait to lure you into installing spyware or giving away your personal information. This type of hacking is called phishing and is very coming around the web.
9.  Be careful what you share online! Sites like social networks are great for connecting with friends, but don’t give out any personal information unless you know exactly who’s seeing it—and never include location data in posts since this makes it easier for people to find out where you live or work. You would be surprised what type of personal password protection questions can be easily answered by looking through your Facebook.

Keeping safe online is even more challenging today than ever before with so many threats lurking around the corner. The best way to minimize your risk is by following many of the same tips we have provided above. Are you a business that is concerned about keeping your data and your employee’s data safe while they are at work? Contact us today to see how Ardent can help!