Being safe on the internet is one of the essential security measures you can take. In the past few years, more and more people have reported that they have experienced some sort of cyberattack online. These attacks can seriously harm your devices and your livelihood.
For instance, data breaches have been one of the most severe incidents around. It means that users’ data leaks from a particular company. That information can include anything from phone numbers to passwords. Thus, it is crucial to follow certain cybersecurity recommendations at times like these. And lucky for users, most of them do not take much time: you will likely be done in an hour or so.
Changing passwords
Passwords can be essential to your cybersecurity, but setting a good password may not be as easy as it sounds. You need to have different passwords for your accounts and make sure that these passwords are strong.
Strong passwords contain capital letters, symbols, and numbers. Moreover, when it comes to passwords and cybersecurity, you should change your passwords occasionally. The best timeframe to do so is once every month. However, if you are sure your password is safe, you can do it every three months.
Saving passwords
Once you sign into your online accounts, you will be given the option to save your passwords in your browser. You should skip this step because such habits can bring unnecessary risks. Although it may seem like an excellent option to save your passwords and save some time logging into your accounts, it’s better to type your passwords manually. It is even better to have a dedicated password manager for quickly retrieving each combination.
Clear cache
Clearing your cache will only take a couple of seconds, but you will dramatically improve your security with this tip. A cache remains after you visit a specific page on the internet, such as cookies and other data you gave away to the sites you visited.
Every time you visit a web page, you leave a trace of your data to other internet users, and if your data is visible to others, there is a possibility that your device will get hacked. However, clearing your cache means you will delete all the cookies and any data you left on a web page.
Use multi-factor authentication
All your accounts have a username and a password. However, adding another layer of protection to your account is always a good idea. Multi-factor authentication serves the purpose of adding “another password” to all your accounts. It’s hard to figure out one password but using two or more will make your accounts impossible to hack into.
Setting a multi-factor authentication will only take you a couple of minutes. You can use a PIN, a password, or any other authentication method you prefer, but you will have to enter these new passwords every time you sign into your accounts.
Control your social media activity
Social media may be a fun way to share your activities. These platforms are the most popular means of communication nowadays. However, many people are unaware of the harm social media can have when it comes to your cybersecurity. Public accounts are one of the most vulnerable spots for your internet safety.
Next time you think about sharing your location on social media, you should consider what can happen to your data. When third parties find out about your activities, it will make you more prone to becoming a victim of cyberattacks. Oversharing on social media is a big no if you want to be safe on the internet.
Use a VPN
Virtual Private Networks are universal tools when it comes to improving your cybersecurity. Their main purpose is encrypting internet traffic and preventing potential snooping or data theft. Furthermore, it hides users’ IP addresses. This change ensures that online entities have a harder time figuring out your location.
Download VPN services for that quick privacy, security, and anonymity boost. It will only take a couple of minutes, and you will provide high-quality security for yourself for a long time.
Conclusion
Staying safe online is the most important thing you must do when browsing the web. Whenever you are using the internet, there is a chance that some of your data may be misused or that your computer may get infected by malware.
Luckily, you can do a few time-efficient things mentioned above to boost your online safety and protect yourself from such situations. Applying all these tips will make you more worry-free online and safe from malicious content or unscrupulous individuals.
