Today, the internet is much more open and easily accessible than it used to be. It is a place where people often even share somewhat private aspects of their life, which can get into the hands of anyone who has basic hacking skills. This means that any information that people put online, they are trusting virtually the entire world with it. The internet can create a hazardous environment, especially for kids unless parents vigilantly monitor their activity. Fortunately, there are certain precautions that all of us can take to avoid any such mishaps.
That said, in order to have the best online experience possible, you need to subscribe to a reliable internet service provider that can act as your first line of defense. Get in touch with the First Energy Customer Service to find out which plans are suitable for you according to needs and budget.
Once you have a reliable internet service provider, here are some further precautions that you can take:
Make sure you know where your information goes
One of the most common methods of internet fraud includes obtaining information from unsuspecting users is through fake surveys or questionnaires. If such a message should randomly appear on a website you are using, the safest thing to do is ignore it and never provide them with any information regarding yourself. This even applies to situations where you are signing up for a website, or some kind of a newsletter where they ask for more than just your email. If you absolutely have to provide it, make absolutely certain that the source is certified and reliable.
Don’t post personal data online
A lot of times, people share more than they should with complete strangers online. This is usually through posting about themselves on social media, where they have people on their account who they can’t fully trust.
You need to carefully create social media posts, because it is incredibly easy to accidentally reveal information through them. For example, if you post a picture online with a landmark near your house, you risk exposing your address. Or if you post yourself at your workplace, that also gives random people access to your location.
Avoid Public internet connections
Using a public internet connection, or any connection lacking security, is something you should steer clear of. Any Wi-Fi network that does not require a password for access will not provide you with data encryption, meaning that potentially anyone else on that network will be authorized to access it. By doing this, you expose your device to security breaches and are fully responsible for any loss that you may suffer.
Cyber-criminals often look for users of such networks to hack because access to their data is extremely easy. They frequently do this by setting up a free hotspot, and if someone actually connects to it, no matter how authentic it looks, it will leak your data to them. Make sure never to trust a network like that.
Password choice matters
Cracking passwords nowadays is a nearly effortless task for anyone with adequate experience with coding and software. It is the root of most cyber-crimes since a progressively increasing amount of tools have been developed for automated password hacking. This means that hackers cannot only get into your personal data, but big companies are also at risk, unless they introduce some sort of policy where passwords need to be upgraded at a regular basis.
To make passwords as strong as possible, two-Factor Authentication is a must. This involves authorization of passwords through a code that only the original owner of that particular account possesses. It is sent to them either via email or text message, and logging in without it is impossible.
Don’t trust strangers online
This one goes without saying, but online impersonation is one of the most major cyber-crimes. A younger demographic is usually more vulnerable to this kind of danger, but regardless of your age, it is important to be extremely careful when sharing anything online.
Online influencers often tend to give away their home address, email or phone number to people who offer services to receive something, like a PR package. Influencers need to investigate every offer before they share their personal information. This precaution also applies to things like online multiplayer gaming platforms, where you interact with random strangers from all over the world.
Regularly update your antivirus
The reason your antivirus suggests regular updates is because an outdated version of it might not be able to detect new threats faced by your machine. Viruses evolve the same way computers do. As security for our data increases, malware also gets more dangerous. This happens nearly every single day, so updating your antivirus whenever your computer suggests it, would be wise.
Download responsibly
For the longest time, the most common way for people to hack into your system was through emails containing links with viruses. These links have since then transformed into advertisements and even made their way to social media, but the threat remains the same. So, do not click on anything online, unless you can be absolutely certain about where it will lead you.