We all spend a lot of time online these days. Between work and school and shopping from home, we are all online each day for many more hours than we used to be. This can be a great benefit from the perspective of getting things accomplished easily and being able to work from the comfort of our homes, but it can also open your home network up to risks.
You will find that privacy online is a big factor in how secure your online access is. You do not want to make your entire network at home, or all of your personal information stored in your phone, public while you are online. If you are using public WiFi, you could be opening yourself up to even bigger threats than if you are just not using the right security at home.
If you are ready to learn more about guarding your privacy when you are surfing the web, read on for more information!
Guarding Your Privacy When Surfing the Web
You should consider using all of these tips and tricks when you are spending time online, whether you are home or on public WiFi at a Starbucks or other location. You want to err on the side of caution with web security and privacy and make sure that you think of your own welfare each time you engage with the internet from any device.
1. Use Incognito Mode
This is a really helpful tool that allows you to open a private browsing window that will not show your searches or personal information to anyone else online or to the websites that you are accessing. This can be a big help when you are looking into buying something that you do not want to be spammed about later, and it can also help you to protect your personal information if you need to make a purchase when you are on public WiFi.
This is not a completely private way to access online sites, but it can go a long way toward protecting your personal information from people that you do not want to have. Your ISP will still be able to see your browsing activity, but lots of other bad actors will typically not be able to gain access to this information.
2. Use a VPN
VPNs are one of the best ways to make sure that you are protecting yourself while you are online. A VPN will mask your IP address so that the online actions that you take are untraceable for the most part. This connection is really important to have access to if you are going to have to use public WiFi a lot for work or to complete financial transactions.
Some people even use a VPN when they are at home on their own WiFi just as an added layer of security. There are lots of ways that people can get around your internet security setup, and a VPN will prevent this from happening every time. This is often a very affordable tool to have access to as well, and it can help you a lot if you are going to be traveling for work, particularly in foreign countries. So, find a list of VPN providers and select one that meets your needs.
3. Use a Good Antivirus
You should not think that a cheap antivirus will take care of your needs these days. One size fits all is not a good method of selecting this important part of your online security and privacy. Make sure that you are using a really good antivirus product to keep yourself and your devices safe while you are working and shopping online.
Viruses are being made that are much more sophisticated every day and you cannot hope to defeat advanced viruses with a low-quality antivirus system. You will be grateful for every penny that you spend on a good antivirus when it protects you from ransomware and other really tough viruses that are becoming more common these days.
4. Secure Mobile Devices
You should not assume that your phone is not a threat just like your computers can be. You should always secure your mobile devices like phones and tablets to make sure that they are not wide open and unprotected. This is very true if you are going to be using these devices to access public WiFi while you are traveling or working away from home.
Make sure that your mobile devices have passwords to access them and then you can make sure not to download anything onto your devices that might threaten its security from within. You should also consider what you should and should not do while you are on public WiFi using these devices. Limiting the banking and personal data that you are accessing while you are on public WiFi can prevent issues for you in the long run.
Keeping Your Privacy At the Front of Your Mind Matters
You should always err on the side of caution when engaging in activities online. There are lots of ways that your privacy can be threatened when you are online, particularly if you are using public WiFi to take care of your work or shopping needs. Adding a VPN, making sure that you are shopping in incognito mode and other good internet security and privacy behaviors can keep you from being the victim of a hacking event.
You should always assume the worst about the WiFi you are accessing and consider any access to the internet a potential risk. Being able to think in this way will prevent you from being too trusting with your data and your browsing information when you are at home or out at a coffee shop or restaurant. You will always be much more secure if you think about the risks of incorrect internet use, no matter where you are.
Using these tips, you will be able to keep your privacy in place when you browse the web, no matter where you are or what projects and processes you need to complete.