The internet may seem like a static technology, but in reality, it is always changing. New technologies or novel applications of existing technologies mean that we must always be evolving our defenses as well. Here are some key steps on how to refresh your current internet safety protocol to keep you and your identity safe online
Only Use the Best Sites
The first and most basic thing we do online is to visit websites. When we first got the internet over two decades ago, all the way up to now, visiting websites has been the bread and butter of the web. And visiting the right or the wrong ones can have big effects.
This becomes especially true when we register an account with different websites, as we are offering them our personal information such as email address, phone number, name, address, and birth date. We should be careful where we enter this information.
We can add another layer of security concern when we consider sites where we will be entering financial information. If you are putting in your credit card or bank account information, it is clear why security becomes urgent. Some of these types of sites include online marketplaces such as Amazon, sites where we can purchase tickets, or sites that aggregate flight offers from different airlines.
An especially popular sort of website is an online casino. And given that it involves money, it is imperative to investigate websites before choosing one. For instance, you may discover all the information you need to choose secure online casinos on review or comparison websites. They guarantee that these websites are legitimate, safe, impartial, and user-friendly.
Along with unbiased, thorough, and complete ratings of each operator, they offer consumers a guide to using the best payment methods for online casinos and other information to help them get started.
Cryptocurrency websites are also an important type of website to get expert opinions on. Because you are entering your financial information into these sites, they must be truly safe. They can sometimes feel like banks because we are storing funds there and using them to invest. However, not all of them follow the best financial and security practices.
Learn How to Recognize a Bug
Bugs can sometimes be on our devices without us even realizing it. They are sneaky and can install themselves when we open an email, visit a website, or click a wayward link. These can be so sneaky that many of them are even called Trojan viruses, like the horse that marched right into the fort and invaded the city.
We can have bugs on our phones and not even realize it. For instance, if you notice that your phone sends a text by itself, this is definitely a potential virus, and you should get your phone checked out immediately.
Another sign that something has been hacked is if your friends and family start receiving mysterious emails or direct messages from you. This could be the result of a bug, or it could be a symptom that someone has gotten into your account another way.
Practice Good Password Hygiene
Keeping your passwords requires more work these days than simply not telling anyone. There are no phishing programs, data breaches, and programs that automatically try random passwords to get into accounts. You may even need some technological help to keep your passwords safe.
One of the first things is to not use the same password for multiple sites. We tend to do this because it is easier to remember just one, rather than several passwords. However, this means that if someone gets ahold of one password, then they will be able to access any number of your accounts, multiplying your vulnerability.
But how to remember all of these passwords? Luckily you do not have to! You can invest in a password manager for yourself. These programs or applications remember all of your passwords for you and automatically fill them in on your device. This way you only have to remember one master password, which you can and should make very difficult to guess. It could be a phrase of random words along with symbols and numbers, for example-.
Keep Apps and Windows Programs Updated
Those pesky updates can actually be important when it comes to security. It is so easy to put them off for another time when we are not about to use our phones or computer. We do not want to be bothered it seems.
However, these updates almost always contain vital security features. When a new bug emerges, they develop a patch and roll it out this way. If you do not update, you may be leaving yourself open to an attack.
So, remember, when you get that annoying notification asking if you would like to update to the latest version, keep in mind that it could be an essential part of keeping you and your information safe!
