We live in a highly digital world. From keeping in touch with friends to paying for everything from groceries to insurance premiums, we conduct most of our daily activities online. Since we spend so much time on the internet, we should prioritise securing our digital lives. Hackers and other online scammers constantly attempt to steal personal information for their benefit.

Cyber security experts say that people commit mistakes that could leave them vulnerable to cyberattacks, allowing others to access their personal information. Here are some expert tips you should follow to safeguard your online presence.

 

How to Stay Safe Online

Use Unique Passwords and Store Them Safely

Most of us struggle to create a new password for every account we access. We often use the same password across platforms. Unfortunately, this is a critical error. Replicating passwords across websites makes it easy for hackers to access multiple accounts with a single password. Instead of trying to rely on your memory, use a password vault. It is a software programme that secures all your passwords in a digital location. The vault encrypts password storage and allows you to access all your passwords with a master password. With the vault, you can create and store long, cryptic passwords that are difficult to guess or hack. Some password vaults even generate strong passwords for each website. A password vault is safer than writing down passwords in a notebook or Excel that others can access easily.

 

Don’t Follow Unverified Links

Once we purchase something from an online portal, they send us numerous e-mails about their offers, new products and services. Online scammers may use e-mails to encourage us to click on links that enable them access to our details. Whenever you receive a commercial or promotional e-mail from a website, ensure you unsubscribe from it. Doing so keeps your inbox clean and safeguards you from phishing attacks. You should also avoid clicking on links before verifying the source. Instead of clicking on unverifiable links, use your internet browser to navigate to the company’s website instead.

 

Secure Your Home Network

Most of us share our internet passwords with friends, family, and neighbours. If your password gets out, people can use it to upload malware and access your devices. You can set up a password for family members and create a separate guest network for others. The guest network has a different password and helps safeguard your home devices. You could also enable your router’s encryption and keep your router’s firmware updated to avoid attacks.

 

Take an Extra Step to Verify Your Identity

Research suggests that two-factor authentication can make accounts 99% more secure. Always use two-factor verification whenever possible, especially while accessing banking accounts online. You can also use two-step authentication for your social media and e-mail accounts to keep your details and data safe. Two-factor verification stops people from accessing your data even if they manage to crack your password.

 

Plan for Later

While securing your online data, ensure you take steps to provide your family with all the essential details they require. If something happens to you, your spouse or child may have to access your bank details or e-mails to take stock of your assets. Ensure you plan to pass your secure passwords to your heir.

 

Follow these tips to enjoy safe and secure online interactions. You should also regularly update your device's anti-virus and firewall software to protect yourself against new online threats. Develop a habit of changing your passwords regularly to prevent people from using outdated or old passwords to access your details. Finally, when visiting a financial or banking website, do not let your browser remember your login details and passwords. You can avoid digital attacks and keep your online data safe by being vigilant and proactive about your internet security.

 

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