5 Best Tips That Will Save You from Online Hackers
Cybercrime is growing at an incredible rate, but so does the number of ways for people to protect their data from online hackers. The Internet is a risky place to share information if you don’t know how to protect yourself online. Many people pay little attention to this, making it very simple for hackers to obtain their information without any extra effort. Hackers are increasingly good at their tricks and ways to steal information and do crime online. But, there are some basic rules that, if we always follow, will make their attempts a lot harder. Let’s take a look at them.
You must be cautious when using WiFi hotspot with others. Even if this doesn’t seem at all risky at first, when you send a Wifi hotspot to someone you don’t know well, they get access to some information that you’d rather keep private. Crime is a real thing, so only share with – and receive hotspots from people you know.
So, next time you meet a stranger and they ask you to give them some Internet access, think twice before doing this. You should share this only with people you know if you want to keep yourself safe.
Hooking up to some free WiFi in the coffee shop you are visiting or when you aren’t at home can be tempting. But, doing so and accessing important information on public networks is one of the riskiest things you can do.
Unsecured networks can spread malware into your device and get unrestricted access to everything you have there. If you have to use a Wi-Fi network that is not your own, you must take the necessary precautions to keep your data safe.
For starters, don’t access information that you don’t want people to steal. You can also use a VPN to encrypt your connection and enhance your privacy.
Online sites demanding those lengthy passwords with capital and small letters, symbols and numbers don’t do this ‘just to torture you’. They do it because this is how you protect yourself from being scammed and hacked online. Difficult passwords are much harder, if not impossible to hack. This is the oldest trick in the book, and by using simple passwords, you are making it very easy for criminals to get your data.
In addition to using strong passwords, try and use different ones on different platforms. Many of us have the habit of using the same password everywhere. Imagine this – a hacker finds it on one unsafe website and then has access to all your accounts, everywhere.
Safe websites are your haven and you should stick to them. If you are looking for some information and are unsure if the website is safe, and something pops up for you to click on – don’t be tempted to do this. We all know that old trick of sending an enticing or funny message to convince people to click on it.
If you get a message of something that creates a sense of urgency in you, a deal that is too good to be true, or a source you have no idea is legit, don’t do it. This can install malware into your device or take you to a fake site where you will be enticed to enter important personal details.
Start with the updates you can have on your device. Operating systems continuously improve and take measures to protect their users better. Those updates can be annoying, but they are there for a reason. Download them when available.
Also, make sure that you have a good antivirus in place. You need security software or antivirus software to protect you from not only viruses, but also criminals. If you aren’t sure which one to pick, check out reputable options with free trial versions. You might be surprised to find what lurks around your computer, just waiting to capture the most important information.
Before you install any system to protect you from viruses and crime, do your research. There are fraudulent security programs, too, so what starts as an attempt to protect yourself might end up opening the doors for hackers to get your information.
Final Thoughts
Hackers find new ways to get people’s information every day, but software systems and experts figure out new safety measures, too. Using the internet is an amazing tool for many purposes, but if you want to avoid being a victim of cybercrime, take at least the most basic measures in this article to increase your security.