Five Critical Ways to Stay Safe on the Internet in 2019

Hackers can now easily access personal information. By following these tips on how to stay safe on the Internet, you can keep your data protected.

The Internet has become an inevitable force in our lives. Future generations won’t know what the world was like before computers. However, the convenience of the Internet comes at a cost. Hackers can now easily access our personal information, and a data breach could very well ruin your life. Protect yourself by following these tips on how to stay safe on the Internet.

Create a Strong Password

To ensure nobody can access your personal information, create a strong password. Also avoid using the same password for multiple accounts. Many websites encourage long, complex passwords, but you can use whatever you want—one easy way to ensure a strong password is to think of something random. You don’t want to create a password based on anything associated with you because it will be easy to decode. Then think of another random object and combine the two. You’ll then want to add special characters and capital letters. This should protect you from potential hackers.

Only Share Personal Info on Secure Sites

You can take care of many important tasks through the Internet these days. However, whenever you have to enter important information, you should be aware of the site’s trustworthiness. One way to check site security is to look for a lock icon on the left end of the address bar. If the icon is present, then entering your information on that site is safe. Also, make sure you don’t store personal information on any site.

Watch What You Download and Open

Watching what you download is crucial because hackers often use downloads as bait. You may also encounter spam pop-ups while browsing the web; avoid these by quickly exiting out of the pop-up or browser. You also don’t want to click on suspicious-looking emails.

Think About What You Share

Social media has become a huge part of our lives—but it can also have harmful effects on background checks. While social media posts don’t necessarily reflect the person you really are –– for better or for worse –– you should still be smart about what you post. Don’t share anything you might regret later. Search through your social media accounts for anything that could be construed as offensive or inappropriate. You also don’t want to share too much about yourself on social media. Remember that anybody can see anything you post. Check your privacy settings if you’re worried, and make sure you only accept friend requests from people you actually know.

Make Sure Your Network Is Secure

Another way to stay safe on the Internet is to make sure the network you’re on is secure, whether you’re browsing the web at home or in a public setting. Install a firewall on your home network to ensure security. Your device will let you know if the network you’re logging on to is unsecured. Avoid unsecured networks at all costs, especially if you need to enter personal information.

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