In today’s modern world, electronic devices have become indispensable. Many people spend a lot of time online daily, whether for working, shopping, communicating or entertainment. And while nearly everyone is aware of data breaches and their significant impact, few are those who take the necessary steps to protect their data. But this can be quite costly because cyberattacks are now on the rise and can impact anyone.
For this reason, consumers should commit to the best cybersecurity practices and ensure a safer and overall better experience when browsing the Internet. In this article, we share 6 smart strategies you can adopt right away to protect your online privacy, so read on!
Think Twice Before Sharing Your Personal Data
A golden rule for Internet users is to treat their data with a lot of care. This means only revealing personal details if it is legally required. Otherwise, there’s no reason to share it! It may be tempting to exchange it for a discount, for example, but ask yourself if it’s truly worth it. If you weigh the benefits versus the risks involved, you’ll probably conclude that a discount is something you can do without.
When using a service or purchasing a product online, you may be required to give your personal information, but remember to only share it with reputable brands that are transparent about their reasons for collecting data. Otherwise, your personal information may be resold around the web, which probably gives you shivers just at the thought of it.
Create Unique Passwords For Your Accounts
Using a single password for multiple accounts may seem easier, but that will only make you a target for cybercriminals. Instead, you should create unique passwords for each of your accounts. If you have difficulty remembering them, you can keep them offline in a safe and locked location.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that such a method has its limitations, and what works best is a password manager. This is an excellent solution for everyone using online services, as it stores your login information for all your accounts, allowing you to log into them automatically. A password manager eliminates the need to manually type your account credentials while also providing you with increased security.
Ensure You Have Antivirus Protection
Digital threats constantly emerge in the online world, and you may be exposed to some of them without even realising it. Even if you are extremely careful when browsing the Internet, you still need antivirus on your computer, as threats can be anywhere – even in seemingly reputable websites or files. An antivirus can protect your system by detecting a potential attack and preventing it from damaging your smartphone or laptop.
However, it’s important to remember that not all antiviruses are created equally – and while some may claim to provide the best protection, that’s not necessarily the case.
Hence, it’s crucial to choose a convenient and top-quality product to get the most out of your purchase. Nowadays, most antivirus programs include other features besides a virus scanner, such as a network firewall, a password manager and phishing protection. For example, norton 360 is an unparalleled antivirus package that provides rock-solid protection for your device at an incredibly convenient price.
It’s an excellent cybersecurity solution, as it even includes dark web monitoring as a feature, scanning the dark web for personal information like home addresses, credit card details, phone numbers, and more.
Always Read Privacy Policies
It’s common for Internet users to click on the ‘I Agree’ button without actually going through the Terms & Conditions on a company’s page. After all, the information is long and boring and reading it seems time-consuming, so people choose to skip it instead. However, you may realise that paying attention to it is actually worth your time and effort.
These policies exist for a reason, namely to inform you about what data they collect from users, including name, location, and credit card number. You should check whether any security measures are in place – for instance, some websites use a security protocol to ensure that all the information they collect is kept safe. Suppose you use a free service; in this case, it is very unlikely that the security measures are robust.
In general, reputable companies are the ones who focus more on their clients’ privacy. Hence, make sure to read the document, and if you feel like your info won’t be protected, it may be a good idea to use another service.
Use a VPN
Consumers often overlook the importance of using a virtual private network. However, a VPN provides increased privacy and security, so it’s worth activating it when going online. A VPN encrypts your network connection and keeps your IP address hidden, making it difficult for third parties to access your data.
Public Wi-Fi can seem incredibly convenient; after all, it’s great to be able to browse the Internet while you’re at your favourite coffee shop. However, public Wi-Fi comes with a downside: it’s public, which means your information can be tracked easily. With a VPN, you can avoid these privacy threats, add security to online banking, and stay safe as you shop online by adding encryption.
Remember That What You Post Online Stays Online
This may be a hard pill to swallow, but privacy doesn’t really exist in the digital world. If you post something online, it stays there forever. And that includes everything: vacations, local haunts, habits, credit card numbers, etc. Once you post something online, you can’t take it back or delete it.
And this is true even for your social media account; even if you no longer want to be on social platforms, Facebook and Instagram will still keep your data. Even if an email is gone from your hard drive, it remains on the servers the email provider operates. Now, knowing this can be quite uncomfortable, but instead of letting it scare you, you should take it as a wake-up call to consider carefully what you post online.
The Bottom Line
Cybersecurity has never been more critical than it is nowadays, and with so many emerging threats, consumers should adopt the best strategies to stay safe online. We hope our expert tips will inspire you to take better care of your data.