Making your gadgets, online identity, and activities more protected really doesn't require much effort. Many of our suggestions about what can be done to be more secure online require a little more understanding than just common sense. Below mentioned are some tips that can help you stay secure.
1. Install an Antivirus and Keep It Up to date
Softwares known as antivirus are important to remove malware and viruses from your system. Programs like Ransomware encrypt your files and you need to pay to restore them. An effective antivirus can help your system from such types of threats.
Antiviruses also provide online security from malicious websites. You can choose any antivirus of your choice, just remember to update it regularly.
2. Set unique passwords for every login
The most simple way for hackers to gather information is username and combinations of passwords that a user uses generally. Using this information, they might try to login into banks and other sites. The best way to prevent this from happening is to use a strong and unique combination of passwords. Also, try to avoid using the same password everywhere.
3. Use a VPN
Your system is the most exposed when visiting certain sites or when connected to public Wi-Fi. It is advised to use a VPN when doing so, to prevent your system from getting attacked.
For instance, if you go to a cafe and you connect to the free Wi-Fi there, it might be a possibility that someone else on that network, without coming to your notice, could start peeking into your files and steal your data sent from your laptop or mobile device.
Anyone can sniff data passing through a public network, this technique is called network sniffing. With VPN encryption you will protect yourself online from such types of threats. That means that your data is encrypted and nobody can access your data over Wi-Fi.
By using a VPN, you can also hide your IP address. If anyone tries to locate you, he will find the location of the VPN’s server, not your actual location. You can also use a VPN server to access content that might not be available in your country.
On a more serious note, journalists and activists in countries with poor human rights, use VPN technology to communicate securely. These are some of how you can use a VPN to secure your device.
4. Use Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication can be a little hectic but it makes your account more secure. Two-factor authentication refers to using an extra layer of authentication after using your username and password.
If your account consists of personal data and sensitive information, and it offers an option of enabling two-factor authentication, you must definitely use it. Google has already signed up 150 million people for two-factor authentication.
One of the examples of two-factor authentication is OTP, which is a one-time password. For instance, when you log in to Amazon Prime, it sends an OTP to the registered mail or number, other than the password and you can only access your Prime when you enter the OTP.
Two-factor authentication confirms that the account is yours by using at least two different forms of authentication that includes:
- something that you are
- something that you have
- something that you know
Something that you know is generally the password. Something that you are, could include authentication using a fingerprint, facial recognition, or iris recognition.
Something that you have, could be your phone number or your mail-id. You might be asked to enter any kind of confirmation text or tap the link sent to your authorized number or mail-id, to confirm your identity.
5. Disable the “save password” option from the browser
Your browser has an in-built feature that can auto-save passwords that you enter. You should disable it as the information saved on the browser is not always safe. It is not recommended to save your passwords on the browser, as anyone with basic coding skills can see the password behind asterisks. It is believed that it is best to leave the security of passwords to the password managers and not the browser.
Give a thought to this. When you install a third-party password manager, it generally offers to access the password that you must have saved in the browser’s storage. If the password manager can do that, you can be sure some malicious program can do the same from the browser history. Also, you must keep your passwords in a single password manager that lets you use them across all browsers and devices.
6. Safeguard and protect Your Social Media Privacy
If you’re not paying for any service, you’re not a consumer; you’re the product itself, this is a very common saying. Today, on social media, it has become very easy to share pictures, videos, and other information about yourself, and you may end up sharing way too much than what is required.
Facebook lets you download your data, using which you can see what all is known by the website. It might prove to be an eye-opener and might make you realize that you have shared more than required.
Conclusion
Today’s digital world has everything that can make your work easy and convenient but it can even pose a threat to your online security. As nothing is ever fully secure online, you need to be extra cautious and protect your bank details and other sensitive information. Using the above-mentioned ways, you might be able to make your account and system more secure.