More Practical Tips To Keep You Safe Online

In a growing online world, cyber security seems too complicated of a concept for users to understand, especially among personal users. This doesn’t have to be the case at all. In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the most practical tips to keep you safe whenever you are online.

Never Leave Your Device Unattended

Whether it is a smartphone, a laptop or a personal computer, you should never leave your device unattended. You can set up a password for your computer and have it go to sleep when not being used for a certain period of time. This way, even when you leave the computer, no other user can access it.

The same goes for smartphones and other mobile devices. Services such as Google Android Device Manager and Apple’s Find My iPhone allow users to remotely wipe their devices when they are stolen. Be sure to have these features activated on your phone at all time.

Setting a password for your phone is now very easy to do. Depending on the phone you use, you can set up a PIN code, a gesture or pattern and even use your fingerprint as a security measure. Protecting your phone from unauthorized access is not difficult at all.

It Can Happen to Anyone!

One of the keys to staying safe online in this digital age is realizing that a cyber attack can happen to anyone. Personal details are very valuable, whether you are a rich businessman or an ordinary Joe; yes, cyber attacks can indeed happen to anyone.

There is no such thing as being too careful when it comes to protecting your personal information. You need to be able to realize this and take active steps towards protecting your details.

Here’s a couple of things you can do to stay safe:

• Use strong passwords and be sure to manage them properly. Avoid using the same password for all web services you use. If one of them steals your password, the rest of the accounts are vulnerable to attacks.
• Check for security certificates and signs of phishing before entering your account information, your credit card information or other personal details. There are plenty of ways to steal your personal information, so you can never be too careful.
• Avoid entering personal information unless you are using your own device. You don’t know the kind of security routine a device has when it is not yours, and entering your personal details could mean exposing yourself to potential information theft.
• Use a VPN to encrypt your online traffic.

Connecting Securely

One of the most common ways for worms and Trojans to spread is through flash drives. You need to be extra certain that your antivirus is up to date before connecting drives you don’t own or one that has been plugged in to another device.

The same goes for Internet connectivity. Public WiFi hotspots must be used with extra care. Turn off all sharing options when you are using a public Internet connection and make sure you have a firewall installed on your device to prevent access from remote devices.