Staying Safe Online: 3 Helpful Tips

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The way we interact and engage online is essential to the safety and security of our personal and professional data. Our computers and electronic devices often house a significant amount of our information, from banking details to important company emails.

Accessing the data from an individual’s data from their home device is easier than ever, which means users must be vigilant in protecting their privacy online.

Whether you’re accessing the best rural internet to browse social media, make a purchase, connect with colleagues, or play your favorite online game, staying safe and alert online is crucial. 

With these tips and the help of trusted internet providers in London Ontario, or wherever you are in the world, you can take the next step to secure your data.

Include a VPN

A virtual private network — known as a VPN — is designed to securely connect your electronic device to an internet server and prevent anyone else from accessing your data or monitoring your online activity. Users can take comfort in knowing their connection is secure at home and when they’re out using a public Wi-Fi connection.

While VPNs offer a range of benefits to the user, it’s important to recognize there may be setbacks to your connectivity — primarily regarding speed. VPNs will reroute your information through an additional server to protect your data, which may result in slower browsing and download speeds.

Using Antivirus Software

No matter how frequently or infrequently you surf the web, you should never engage online without adequate protection. Antivirus programs can be installed on any computer and are often available as low-cost or free options.

These programs are designed to protect your device from malicious malware and viruses by identifying threats to your device and swiftly removing them — ensuring your data remains protected. This is considered to be an investment, even if you have to pay an additional amount out of pocket. In the end, you can feel safe knowing your online activity isn’t compromised.

Protective Passwords

You don’t have to be a technological wizard to understand the benefits of creating strong and complex passwords for your devices. Passwords are the first line of defense in protecting your data, whether it’s your company emails, banking information, or retail accounts.

The key to passwords is complexity. If you use the same password for everything — which is quite common — it’s easier than ever for hackers or bots to push past and begin accessing your data. The general rule of thumb is the longer the password, and the more characters and numbers included, the harder it is to crack. It’s also recommended that you change your password every three months and use unique passwords for every log-in.

What Should You Look Out For?

Knowing what type of malware you may be susceptible to can help you delve further into their potential threats and ensure you’re properly protected.

  • Ransomware
  • Trojans
  • Botnets
  • Viruses
  • Spyware

Each brings its own unique threats to your device, but with the tips and resources outlined above, you can take the necessary steps to protect your device and your data.