This is a question many people ask whenever they use the web. The internet has become such a huge part of our everyday lives but it’s hard to know how to protect ourselves.
The bad news is; your information is never truly safe and private; however, today we are going to let you in on a few great ways to keep your data protected and out of the wrong hands. So, before you log onto your bank account or access your email, be sure to read this article so you can make sure you are doing everything you can to keep yourself safe from harm.
Create Great, Unique Passwords
The most important thing you can do whenever you are on the web is have great passwords. You do not want your passwords for any sites, especially important ones such as your bank or email to be something just about anyone could guess. This means, avoid using your pet’s name, last name or the place you work or have worked. Try to incorporate numbers, letters and symbols into your passwords and never have the same passwords for various websites. Also, you should be changing these passwords at least a few times a year so you stay one step ahead of the game.
Update Your Computer Regularly
Another very important thing to keep up with is your computer’s updates. You should run updates regularly because the longer you go without doing so, the greater your risk of being hacked. This means updating your operating system and anything else that needs to be changed. Putting this off for a few hours is fine, but it should be done at least once a week. While you’re at it, you might as well run a system defragmentation so all of your files stay neat and in order. Killing two birds with one stone makes life much easier!
Be Cautious With Emails
While it is very easy to feel as though your information is safe and secure in a place such as your personal email, that is actually one of the first things people try to hack into because they know a lot of personal identifying information is typically stored there. Because of this you want to be very cautious of emails you receive, even if they are from someone you know and trust.
Since emails are so easy to hack, you should avoid opening emails that look suspicious. A lot of times simply opening an email can mean you are allowing files onto your computer that can find your personal information or even watch what you are doing.
If there are links within an email, instead of clicking on them; go to the website and find the information. That way, you aren’t putting yourself in so much risk. When it comes to the internet, you can never be too cautious. You never know who’s watching and trusting anyone can be pretty tricky.
Keep Track of Your Antivirus
Just like you should be updating your computer on a regular basis, you should always have some form of antivirus to protect you against the things you may not be able to see in the background. An antivirus helps fight against attacks on your computer and keeps all of your information safe. Oftentimes, having more than one is a good idea. Spybot and Norton are two very good options that many people are using these days but there are what seems like an endless number of ways to protect yourself so take your time in your selections and never let them expire because even a day without antivirus can lead to many issues; especially if you use your computer a lot.
Social Networking Sites
While social networking sites are a wonderful way to keep in contact with your friends or even your business clients; you should be very careful about what you post on them. Keep in mind; anything and everything you post online may live on forever. You can never be sure who has copied the information or shared it and how many people still have access to it. So, whenever posting, make sure you think twice. Of course, never give out personal information such as bank account numbers, your phone number, address or passwords. Even if you are giving this information through a private messaging system, your information can still be discovered and stolen.
Remember to take advantage of your controls. If you would like to, make it so only your friends can see your page or have access to certain parts of your information. At the same time, you need to keep in mind that there is no way to guarantee that other people won’t be able to see and access the things you post so always give everything you do enough thought.
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