Using technology comes with no blindingly obvious risks to your wellbeing besides having an electric shock or dropping your computer on your foot, however there are many dangers that lurk on the internet which could threaten your mental and physical health, your financial position and your reputation. Staying safe online is essential, as these risks are growing and evolving at such a fast rate, and the consequences of falling victim to a scam or malicious behavior can be absolutely devastating. So, if you want to know more about how you can browse the web with ultimate peace of mind, then read on to uncover some of the best security tips and tricks that can help you to stay as safe as possible each time you unlock your laptop or smartphone.
Strong Passwords
When you open your phone, visit a social media site, shop online or utilize almost any other website or feature on the internet, you have to create your own username and password to secure your account. Inside this account there may be personal information such as your name and date of birth, and also sensitive data such as your bank details and your last location. In order to protect yourself and stop other users from gaining access to your profiles, you must take steps to create the strongest passwords – they should include capital and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters, and they must be changed on a regular basis. Never make a physical note of your passwords, as this could easily fall into the wrong hands. Never use your name or your birthday in your password as this makes it very easy to break down and guess, just go for something as wild as possible and ensure that you are able to remember it.
Extra Security Features
No matter how high tech and brand new your laptop or computer is, and even if you are using one of the best satellite internet providers, it’s likely that it’s security features are somewhat lacking and there’s a need for you to install some extra applications to stay as safe as possible. There are many free and easy to use software packages that can act as a firewall on your device, blocking access for unknown data packets and stopping viruses and malware in their tracks. Firewalls are an amazing addition and can run in the background whilst you are browsing the web to act as a sort of ‘bodyguard’ for your files and personal information. As well as this, you can download browser applications such as advertisement blockers that can remove all ads on every web page that you visit – some adverts are actually trojans in disguise, and just one click can send your device into meltdown.
Staying safe on the internet has never been so simple when you are able to make the most of the top tips and tricks detailed above! Start off by ensuring that your passwords are as strong and varied as possible, and search for some helpful extra features that can add another layer of protection for ultimate peace of mind.
