Internet Safety
The internet is a great place where billions of people have access to the web regularly to share information and learn things. Still, it can also be a dangerous place where criminals, malicious hackers and terrorists pose a considerable threat. To stay safe online, you'll need to understand these risks and learn how to avoid them.
Sometimes, we have a false sense of security while using the computer. After all, you can’t be harmed physically through a computer screen. But to stay safe online, you need to be aware of the dangers lurking
on the internet and take a more cautious approach.
Here are some helpful tips and tools that you can use to protect your computer and personal information;
i. CREATE STRONG PASSWORDS
For most things we do online, we need to create passwords to log in/have access to different services. You need to create strong passwords which should not include personal details, be too short, easy for you to remember but difficult for people to guess etc.
You should use different passwords for each of your online accounts so that if one account gets hacked, the other accounts are protected. Always keep your passwords safe and never share them with anyone.
ii. USING ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
One of the first things you should do when you get a new device is get antivirus software installed on your computer or mobile phone. It will protect your device from any viruses, malware or spyware that might be lurking around on the internet and also prevent viruses that could steal your personal information or cause other types of damage. Ensure you update this software regularly in order to keep it up-to-date with the latest security threats and vulnerabilities.
In case you have been attacked by a virus or malware, it is important to know how to remove it from your computer or phone as quickly as possible so that it does not spread further and infect more devices.
iii. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM PHISHING
You should also take care not to click on suspicious links, open emails from unknown senders, or download files from untrustworthy sources or attachments you open when using emails. Once you open the link, a program is installed and hidden on your device, allowing a cyber-criminal to remotely control your laptop’s webcam and other applications depending on the malware.
iv. AVOID PUBLIC Wi-Fi
If you use public Wi-Fi networks or hotspots, make sure not to access sensitive information such as banking details or passwords while connected to the Wi-Fi. Use only secure Wi-Fi networks to access sensitive information.
v. COVER YOUR COMPUTER’S CAMERA
As a first step to enhancing your cybersecurity, several security professionals advise using camera covers.
Taking extra precautions is not rocket science because protection is as easy as covering your camera with electrical tape/insulating tape or a Post-It note. You can buy a webcam cover so you can open your camera whenever want to make video calls.
vi. MAKE SURE THE WEBSITE IS SECURE
To ensure that all your communication and data is encrypted as it passes from your browser to the website’s server make sure that the uniform resource locator(URL) of the website begins with "https" and not "http".
Secondly, look out for a key-lock symbol near your browser's location field which simply means that the connection between your web browser and the website server is encrypted.
In this article, I have listed some of the ways that you can protect yourself online. They are not difficult to do and can be done in a matter of minutes. Ensure you take the necessary precautions to protect your digital identity and personal information while browsing the internet.
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