How to stay safe online

 Staying safe online is something everyone should be consciously doing at all times. Cybercrime is rife, and more people than ever are falling victim to scams and online identity theft than ever before. This type of theft can cause massive damage to your finances, your reputation, and your life in general. Knowing how to post common online scams and frauds can help to keep you safe, but what if you want to go one step further?

How can you protect yourself in a digital world and ensure you are safe and your details are secured at all times?

Update

You need to be updating software regularly to help avoid cybercriminals exploiting holes or weak defenses. Neglecting to update when fixes are rolled out for both your computer and tablet devices and any programs and software you use can leave you at risk of your defenses being breached via that particular point. For example, suppose you have a WordPress website or blog, and you don't update to the newest version of WordPress to fix security vulnerabilities. In that case, your site can’t be as well protected from hackers, and you are putting yourself and any data on others you might hold at risk.

Password Manager

We all know we shouldn't be changing passwords regularly and using solid passwords around 12 characters or more, constraining a mix of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. If you use Google Chrome, you can use the suggested passwords they give you to make yours more complex and ensure no two sites have the same password. But using password managers can keep your passwords safe and secure and allow you to access them by enabling the passwords to be prefilled when logging in.

VPN

When you're out and about and using public networks, you never know who might be interested in your data, and if you're logging into sites to check your bank balance, for example, or opening apps containing sensitive data, you are putting yourself at risk. A VPN is a great way to encrypt your data and mask your IP address. You can also learn how to change ip address on windows 10 and use a VPN for added security. On top of this, using a VPN makes it harder for you to be tracked online, which can come in handy for viewing content or accessing websites that would usually be restricted to your location.

MFA

MFA or multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection to your account, meaning that you're not just logging in with your username or email and password; you need to add in a code, so you need to wait for a text message or call to come through with the code to log you in. This is a good idea for social media as many people get hacked via social media and lose control of their accounts. This means that if anyone does try to access your account, social media, or otherwise, a code will automatically be triggered and sent to your device. If you didn't request this, you can ignore it and report it to the site they are trying to access, and whoever is trying to log in won't be logged in. It's also important to note that if anyone asks you for this code, you do not provide it to them, as this gives them full access to your account.

Don't Click Links

Clicking email links is a surefire way to get you in trouble digitally. Some hacks require you to click links to allow the malicious code to infect your computer, as well as direct you to sites that aren't legit (always look for the green padlock and https on the web address). 

But typically, when you click on a link from an email, it doesn't always send you where you think it does. Cybercriminals set up websites that look like their supposed targets to trick people into entering information, and this is how they steal your details. So always check the email sender before clicking links, and be wary of links leading you to offers that look too good to be true.

Common scams of this nature include spoofing websites for airlines, booking sites, vacation companies, and retailers, and they are designed to fool you into thinking they are from a legitimate company.

Staying safe online means being vigilant about your activities, securing all your accounts, and being careful about what you click on, the websites you visit, and how you share your details. Failing to be aware of the risk can expose you to the dark side of digital life and put your life at risk from those wishing to steal your money or your identity.