7 HABITS WHICH WILL HELP YOU TO STAY SAFE ON-LINE

The subject of on-line safety was brought up on numerous occasions on our blog, however, this subject should be discussed on an ongoing basis. Dangers and consequences of an irresponsible way of using the Internet, but not only, can be really serious. Familiarise yourselves with a number of steps whose application will enable us to protect ourselves from hackers, viruses, and privacy thieves.

Use antivirus software

The owners of computers with Windows ought to secure themselves from unwanted software and viruses. The best method is to purchase a good antivirus which gets positive reviews from its users. If you prefer freeware, there exist plenty of free equivalents of the programs which have to be purchased to be used. However, if you are not planning to install antivirus software, try to avoid switching off your Windows Defender option in the settings of your operating system. You can learn more on how to use it and its benefits on Windows official web page official website available here.

The users of OS installed on Apple computers are slightly safer. OS is based on Linux which is much more immune to on-line attacks. Of course, this system can also become the aim of harmful software but, from our own experience, we known that it is a significantly less frequent problem in comparison to Windows system.

Apart from antivirus software, it is worth installing antimalware software on our computer.

Firewall, that is a network security system, helps to protect our computer from unauthorised access from the Internet. Windows systems are originally equipped with this function and having this option on is really worth considering. However, securing the system is not the only solution when it comes to firewall. This function is also worth switching on in our routers which share the Internet connection. Practically all models offer their users this function, which comes with default settings. It is also worth studying the instruction manual in order to appropriately configure the firewall.

Use antispam tools

Laptop, tablet, or mobile phone theft will not only bring you unnecessary costs, but also it can bring numerous problems and concerns, due to the fact that we often keep extremely important data and documents on electronic devices. The protection of devices themselves is equally important or even more important that the protection against hackers and unwanted software. If you keep your computer in the car, try to lock it in the trunk so that a potential theft will not be able to notice it from the outside. If you are passing through crowded places, you should always keep your mobile phone in the pocket and ideally in an inside pocket of your jacket or shirt. At such moments, it is worth using the Bluetooth headset. And when you are at a bar or a restaurant, your mobile phone – similarly to your wallet – should be also placed in a pocket and not on the table in front of you – notice that many people make this mistake.

You can read more on the subject of laptop safety in this article.

Even the most careful individuals can become the victims of a theft. However, in order to have a slight advantage over the thief, it is worth installing on our mobile phones and computers additional software which will allow us to trace its location. Devices such as e. g. iPhone are originally equipped with ‘Find my iPhone‘ function. When the stolen mobile phone will be connected to a WiFi network or will be using data transfer, the owner will be able to check its location through a dedicated website. In case of other devices, there is a possibility to download appropriate software which will work on a similar basis. Apart from the tools monitoring the location, we should also use complex passwords and codes. A good solution is to use fingerprint readers, which often are installed in laptops and mobile phones. If the devices are not equipped with such gadgets, you should remember about a proper password (even when you only use your computer at home) which is required before the device starts working.

Protect your privacy on social media sites

Social media are matchlessly useful tools, however, excessive use of e. g. Facebook can transpire to be problematic. Surely, all of you know at least one person who shares information concerning all spheres of their life with others on social media. The visited places, the birth of their child, the descriptions of parties‘ Contrary to appearances, the protection of privacy is extremely important! Try to set your profiles in such a way that the published statuses, photos etc. will be visible only to your friends.

Facebook is equipped with quite a number of settings concerning privacy, it is worth familiarising oneself with them. Of course, the problem of exposing one‘s life does not concern only Mark Zuckerberg‘s Internet platform. Currently, there are plenty of websites and social apps, however, before trying them out it is worth checking in what way they use the shared data and who has access to it. The subject of sharing too much data is presented e. g. in this film.

Currently, there exist numerous websites which require entering large amounts of data concerning our private life. Entering out personal data, credit card numbers, and phone numbers willy-nilly is extremely irresponsible. If you find a suspicious website or the requirements for creating an account seem suspicious, do not do that. Personal data protection is extremely important.

The 21st century is not only life in the real world, but also in the virtual one. Frequently, the latter is much more dangerous than the real one. The dangers which we can face on-line can turn out to be more serious. After all, no one on the street will steal our personal data required for our bank account and no one will illegally use our phone number – and on-line it may happen. Let‘s protect our devices, our personal data, and our privacy.

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