Online security should not be underestimated, particularly for those who lack the experience. Multiple threats may expose your personal information or lead to other problems.
Knowing about potential problems and preventing them is a good approach. Even if you do not encounter threats, preparing in advance will give you some peace of mind.
The methods below should give you plenty of ideas to think about. And the more of these you implement in your cybersecurity strategy, the better off you will be.
Method #1 – Avoid Social Media
It is easy to fall into the social media trap given how addictive platforms like Instagram and Facebook are.
Of course, there are times when spending hours on social media is inevitable. For example, you are running a marketing campaign to raise brand awareness or improve sales.
Focusing on work is okay, but you may end up distracted. In such cases, it is recommended to make a social media content calendar in advance and stick to it while focusing entirely on the task at hand.
Some people have tendencies to overshare personal information. They get involved with strangers and believe that a person on the other end of the conversation has good intentions.
Besides, you may also share something private of another person by not paying attention and posting a picture of the two of you together.
If avoiding social media is not an option, be sure to act smart when using it. Do not let information get into the wrong hands.
Method #2 – Use Virtual Private Networks
Whether it is a smartphone or a laptop that you use to connect to a public network, do not join before you activate a VPN.
Virtual private networks are a good investment, especially given how little they cost. As a rule of thumb, avoid free VPN services because they are not secure.
Online privacy and security are the two features of a virtual private network that are worth emphasizing. A VPN provides you with a different IP address. You can still access the content online, but it is as if you connect from another location.
Data encryption makes it difficult to trace you and attack your device. Potential hackers will struggle to find and access your computer or smartphone if they have to go through a VPN.
Method #3 – Create Data Backups
Creating regular data backups is a good piece of advice. Predicting when something might happen to a computer or smartphone’s hardware that leads to wiping data is too difficult. Not to mention potential malware attacks. Take advantage of external hard drives or cloud storage and back up your files.
Method #4 – Change Passwords Regularly
Password usage is another problem that many people overlook. Hardly everyone bothers coming up with difficult password combinations. Besides, it is simpler to use the same password for multiple profiles.
However, if someone were to find out your password on a random forum or another website, they would gain access to other accounts, such as email and social media.
It might be difficult to come up with new passwords regularly and memorize multiple combinations, but there are ways around this problem. For instance, you could write your passwords on a piece of paper and keep the piece of paper in your drawer.
Or, if you prefer, get a password manager on your smartphone that requires a master password to access the contents and use that.
Method #5 – Install Ad Blockers
After spending some time on the internet, you should notice how some websites have an aggressive advertising policy. Some ads are so annoying that you cannot view page contents properly.
And whether you want to or not, you may click on an ad accidentally, and this ad will redirect you to a virus-infected landing page.
Getting an ad blocker would eliminate the problem. Such a browser extension should be available for your internet browser.
Method #6 – Get Reliable Antivirus Software
Reliable antivirus software should be enough to prevent malware attacks. The problem is finding the right option.
In case you are not tech-savvy enough to pick good antivirus software yourself, ask for recommendations from people you know. Or, as an alternative, research reviews online and compare available choices.
The important thing is to have antivirus running in the background all the time so that it can detect and eliminate threats before they manifest on your computer.
Method #7 – Avoid Shady Websites
There are plenty of shady websites on the internet. If you want to avoid potential problems, ignore suspicious URLs that other people might send you.
Also, when you shop on the internet, stick to reliable stores. Do not let an attractive deal fool you. Just because there is a sale going on, submitting credit card information on a store that looks slightly suspicious is not a good idea.