Our data is more vulnerable than ever. From data breaches and identity theft to phishing scams and social media tracking, the internet is full of threats that can compromise your privacy and security. Yet, despite the risks, many people unknowingly leave themselves exposed.
The good news is that protecting yourself online doesn’t have to be complicated. By taking a few simple precautions, you can significantly reduce the chances of falling victim to cyber threats. These essential security tips will help you stay safe.
Staying safe online
- It seems like choosing a strong password is so basic that it goes without mentioning, yet an amazing number of people will choose something easy to guess, like a pet name or a birthday. Instead, use passphrases with a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. For instance, “BlueSky$82!LemonTree.”
- Several apps and websites will help you create usable passwords so you can use a unique password for each site. A password manager can help you keep track of them securely, or you can save them to a document on your computer and encrypt it.
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) can significantly improve the security of any of your accounts, and you should seriously consider using it where available. It usually requires you to enter a code sent to your smartphone, which can be a hassle, but it would be very hard for someone else to do.
- Don’t overshare personal details like your address, birthday, or vacation plans on social media.
- Use a separate email for important accounts (banking, taxes) and another for casual use.
- Pay attention to your app permissions and delete apps you don’t use anymore to reduce potential security risks.
- Use cloud backups, like Google Drive, for important files or keep offline backups on external hard drives or USBs.
- Check account statements and activity logs regularly.
- Avoid saving your payment details on shopping sites and only purchase from trusted businesses.
- Change the default password on your router (and other devices), as it may be the same as on other routers of the same model and known to hackers.
- Use privacy-focused browsers like Brave or Firefox and clear the cookies frequently.
- Google yourself to see what information is publicly available, and use services like DeleteMe to remove your data from data brokers.
- Don’t click on suspicious links in emails or text messages.
- Look for misspellings of businesses in URLs, especially for ads you receive in emails offering giveaways of popular items.
Follow GeekSided for more tips on staying safe and protecting your data.