3 Online Safety Tips
With hacks, scams, malware and more, the Internet can feel like a dangerous place these days. And, the recent proliferation of devices, from smartphones and tablets to Internet-connected appliances, has opened us up to even greater risks.
But the good news is that by taking just a small handful of security measures we can greatly reduce our exposure to all these threats.
Internet security risks are to be respected, not feared. By following the internet safety tips outlined in this article, you’ll be prepared to protect yourself against the cyber criminals lurking in the dingy corners of the web. Whether you’re concerned about little ones, tweens, or teens, you’ll find easy-to-follow guidance that addresses their pressing online safety issues, including online bullying and the use of games and mobile phones. Use the links below to access quick internet safety tips, and ideas for improving communication and protecting your family online. When it comes to cyber security, kids are often one of your family’s weakest links. Teach kids about suspicious activity online and encourage them to ask for help if something seems unusual. Install security software that helps keep kids from clicking on the wrong links and visiting the wrong sites.
It’s important to put safety first when you are online. Using these tips can help you to stay safe and be a good cyber-citizen! Never give out personal information like your name, address, phone number, or information about where your parents work. Talk with your parents about who it’s okay to talk to online.
Here are some tips to help you get started:
1. Create Complex Passwords. We know you’ve heard it before, but creating strong, unique passwords for all your critical accounts really is the best way to keep your personal and financial information safe. This is especially true in the era of widespread corporate hacks, where one database breach can reveal tens of thousands of user passwords. If you reuse your passwords, a hacker can take the leaked data from one attack and use it to login to your other accounts. Our best advice: use a password manager to help you store and create strong passwords for all of your accounts.
Then, check to see if your online accounts offer multi-factor authentication. This is when multiple pieces of information are required to verify your identity. So, to log into an account you may need to enter a code that is sent to your phone, as well as your password and passphrase.
2. Boost Your Network Security. Now that your logins are safer, make sure that your connections are secure. When at home or work, you probably use a password-protected router that encrypts your data. But, when you’re on the road, you might be tempted to use free, public Wi-Fi.The problem with public Wi-Fi is that it is often unsecured. This means it’s relatively easy for a hacker to access your device or information. That’s why you should consider investing in a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN is a piece of software that creates a secure connection over the internet, so you can safely connect from anywhere.
3. Use aFirewall. Even if your network is secure, you should still use a firewall. This an electronic barrier that blocks unauthorized access to your computers and devices, and is often included with comprehensive security software. Using a firewall ensures that all of the devices connected to your network are secured, including Internet of Things (IoT) devices like smart thermostats and webcams. This is important since many IoT devices aren’t equipped with security measures, giving hackers a vulnerable point of entry to your entire network.
4. Click Smart. Now that you’ve put smart tech measures into place, make sure that you don’t invite danger with careless clicking. Many of today’s online threats are based on phishing or social engineering. This is when you are tricked into revealing personal or sensitive information for fraudulent purposes. Spam emails, phony “free” offers, click bait, online quizzes and more all use these tactics to entice you to click on dangerous links or give up your personal information. Always be wary of offers that sound too good to be true, or ask for too much information.
5. Be a Selective Sharer. These days, there are a lot of opportunities to share our personal information online. Just be cautious about what you share, particularly when it comes to your identity information. This can potentially be used to impersonate you, or guess your passwords and logins.
6. Protect Your Mobile Life. Our mobile devices can be just as vulnerable to online threats as our laptops. In fact, mobile devices face new risks, such as risky apps and dangerous links sent by text message. Be careful where you click, don’t respond to messages from strangers, and only download apps from official app stores after reading other users’ reviews first. Make sure that your security software is enabled on your mobile, just like your computers and other devices.
7. Practice Safe Surfing & Shopping. When shopping online, or visiting websites for online banking or other sensitive transactions, always make sure that the site’s address starts with “https”, instead of just “http”, and has a padlock icon in the URL field. This indicates that the website is secure and uses encryption to scramble your data so it can’t be intercepted by others. Also, be on the lookout for websites that have misspellings or bad grammar in their addresses. They could be copycats of legitimate websites. Use a safe search tool such as McAfee SiteAdvisor to steer clear of risky sites.
8. Keep up to date. Keep all your software updated so you have the latest security patches. Turn on automatic updates so you don’t have to think about it, and make sure that your security software is set to run regular scans.
9. Lookout for the latest scams. Online threats are evolving all the time, so make sure you know what to look out for. Currently, “ransomware” is on the rise. This is when a hacker threatens to lock you out of all of your files unless you agree to pay a ransom. Stay on top of this and other threats by staying informed.
10. Keep your guard up. Always be cautious about what you do online, which sites you visit, and what you share. Use comprehensive security software, and make sure to backup your data on a regular basis in case something goes wrong. By taking preventative measures, you can save yourself from headaches later on.
Looking for more mobile security tips and trends? Be sure to follow @McAfee Home on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
Technology And Online Safety
Technology is incredible! Just think about how far we’ve come over even the last few years. You likely walk around with something in your pocket that’s more powerful than the computer that first sent men to the moon! It’s never been easier to communicate, learn and understand than it is today and that’s awesome.
But there’s always a downside. Technology can present risks, and it’s important to be aware of them so that they can be avoided. The last thing you want is a beloved piece of tech to lead to something awful happening. It’s important to know how to stay safe in the world of modern, digital technology.
Get Some Serious Passwords
I know it can be a pain to remember passwords but trust me, that’s a small price to pay for security. These days there’s no excuse for having a simple password that’s the same for every service you use. It might be tempting to make it something familiar so that you can remember it but that just makes it easier to hack.
Putting your name, birthday or any other personal information in your password just leaves the door open to criminals. Make sure it’s at least six to eight characters long and includes plenty of numbers and punctuation. And no, having ‘password’ as your password was never smart or funny.
Keep An Eye On Who’s Calling
We’re all pretty attached to our phone. Sometimes it feels like we might even be glued to them! But don’t let that comfort let you get suckered into a large number of scams that are out there. Scams used to be pretty easy to spot. Let’s face it unless you’re pretty darn gullible you were never going to send any money to a Nigerian prince. But these days scammers are getting smarter.
They use the correct jargon and include the names of official sounding businesses. It’s almost enough to be convincing. Make sure you’ve got a spam filter set up and if you receive any suspicious looking email then Google the company to see if it’s legitimate. It’s also worth signing up for a cell phone directory so that you can trace any numbers you don’t recognize to make sure they’re authentic.
Stay Up To Date
Having security software installed is great, but it won’t do you much good if it’s five years out of date. Hackers and scammers are usually pretty good with technology; it’s their business to be. They’re always working to outwit security software and find new ways to access your information.
By making sure that your security and antivirus programs are up to date as often as you can, you can be sure that you’re always one step ahead of the scammers. You should also shop around for software. There are usually much better alternatives than the one that comes with your operating system.
Technology has opened the entire world to us but security should be your top priority!
3 Online Safety Tips
