Internet surfing is becoming a popular way to be active in this social world. It has many benefits, but also comes with its risks. Ever wondered if you are safe while surfing? Is your data protected from hackers?
Don’t worry! We are here to help you out. Try these ways to be more cautious and protected while surfing online before getting hacked.
Connect to a Virtual Private Network:
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to create a secure connection to another network over the Internet. VPNs can be used to access region-locked content, keep your data safe from hackers, and more.
VPNs are often used by people who want to access region-locked content, such as Hulu. This is because VPNs can change your IP address, making it appear as if you are located in a different country. For instance, Hulu is a geo-restricted streaming site which is only available in the USA but to watch Hulu in Philippines, you’ll need a VPN to unblock these restrictions without showing your real identity.
VPNs can also be used to keep your data safe from hackers. When you connect to a VPN, all of your traffic is encrypted. This means that it is much harder for anyone to snoop on your traffic and steal your data.
Don’t share too much:
A clever strategy for internet privacy protection? Avoid sharing too much on social media. If you share too much information on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, cybercriminals may find it easy to identify you and steal your identity or gain access to your financial data.
Ignore the “About Me” sections of your social media sites if you want to maintain your online privacy. You do not need not need to provide your birthplace or year, which could make you a target for identity theft.
Investigate more privacy settings. You should possibly only allow those who have individually invited you to access your posts.
Browse anonymously or privately in Incognito Mode:
Do your web browsing in private mode if you don’t want your computer to save your browsing history, temporary internet files, or cookies.
These days, other web browsers provide their own versions of this privacy safeguard. It’s known as Incognito Mode in Chrome. Internet Explorer refers to its privacy setting as InPrivate Browsing, while Firefox refers to its setting as Private Browsing. Nobody else will be able to track your computer’s browsing history when you search with these modes enabled. You can also opt for a proxy that can do this more effectively. This will give me complete anonymity by masking your actually IP so that it will be hard for hackers to gain access to your network. You can get started with the list of free proxies here.
Beware where you click:
Online scams are one method that hackers might use to violate your online privacy. Scammers use spoofing to get you to provide sensitive personal or financial information. Frequently, they’ll send phone, emails that look to be from banks, credit card companies, or other financial institutions to accomplish this.
These emails frequently instruct you to click a link and confirm your financial details in order to prevent your account from being frozen or terminated.
Avoid falling for these tricks. When you click on a phishing link, you can be led to a fake website and fraud pages.
Create secure passwords:
Using strong passwords is one of the many ways you can guard against identity theft online. Unfortunately, many continue to use passwords like “password” or “12345678.” Don’t use them, your dog’s name, or the birthdays of your children.
The optimal password is one that you can remember but that will be challenging for others to guess, including dangerous software that attempts every possible password combination. A passphrase, or compressed sentence, is frequently preferable to a single word with added numbers and symbols.
Put two-factor authentication:
After entering your username and password to log in, two-factor authentication asks you to confirm your identity. You may occasionally be required to input a code delivered to your phone by text message or email to confirm your identification.
You could also be required to respond to a security question. Opt in to two-factor authentication whenever it is offered. It might take you a few seconds longer to log in, but it can decrease the likelihood that other people will also be able to log in to your accounts.
Prevent using public WiFi:
If at all possible, avoid using unprotected public Wi-Fi on your devices. Using it puts you at risk of exploitative tactics. If you must use it, stay away from entering sensitive data on any websites, such as your Social Security number or bank information.
The best option is to browse using a VPN, or virtual private network, when you’re away from home. Your data will be encrypted as a result, making it considerably more difficult to intercept.
Conclusion:
Your privacy should always be your top priority. Protect yourself from these scammers and stop getting yourself exposed with the help of these ways that we have mentioned. Stay safe and secure while managing your online presence.
