Cyber-Smart: Tips for Keeping Yourself Safe Online

You’ve probably heard the commercials about staying safe online by now, and you should pay attention to them as well! The internet is a daunting place for newcomers, and in today’s world if you’re not careful, scammers and cybercriminals might penetrate your systems undetected. Your bank account could be emptied, your personal information could be taken, and your data could be released in the blink of an eye. So, if you want to be safe online, follow these guidelines to drastically limit the possibilities of this happening to you.

Regularly change your passwords

Passwords can be difficult to remember. Keyloggers, on the other hand, can get access to your systems and steal your credentials. By changing your password on a regular basis, you can lessen the odds of someone else gaining access to your online accounts. Here are a few password hints to keep in mind:

1. Create a random arrangement of capital letters and numerals. This makes it more difficult for keyloggers to decipher your password.
2. Use the same words twice in your password. According to studies, if a keylogger works out the first word, the second word will take longer to figure out since it expects it to be different. Using the phrase ‘Sunshinesunshine’, for example, might dissuade a keylogger for longer than simply using it once.
3. When possible, include special characters to make your password even more difficult to guess.

Be aware of spam phone calls

Online safety begins with your cell phone. A simple call to your cell could lead you to giving them personal information that could hack an account you have online. For example, you may receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from your bank – always verify this before giving away any personal information. If you can’t, tell them you’ll call them back and call your bank using their trusted number online. You can also review here who has called you and whether or not you can trust the number.

Only use approved apps or programs

We’ve all done it before: downloaded a piece of questionable software to our PCs or a dodgy app to our mobile. Even if you haven’t used it since downloading it, uninstalling them as soon as possible is critical since they may already have access to your computer or phone’s files. Many users are unaware that even after uninstalling a programme, some remains of the programme may linger. To ensure that your systems are devoid of anything that could potentially damage you, follow this guide to thoroughly remove programmes.

Always check the source

When you download something into your computer or phone, researching the source is a smart approach to ensure that it is safe. Checking the reviews and Google the app creator for an app on your phone will help you establish whether it is safe or not. Making sure you’re getting computer programmes from a secure site with a padlock in the search box helps ensure you’re not downloading something malicious. If the padlock isn’t present and the site isn’t secure, never give out any personal information while filling out forms for downloads.

Finally, because of their vexing tendencies, many people dismiss antivirus software. But that’s exactly why they’re there: to remind you to keep your systems secure so that the worst doesn’t happen. There are several free antivirus programmes available, but we recommend investing in one to ensure optimal online security.