With cyberattacks becoming a lucrative venture for criminals, governments, business owners, and individuals are doing everything possible to curb this vice. For instance, sites where Irish Lotto tickets are available online employ the latest encryption protocols, use robust firewalls, and integrate secure payment getaways to protect their customers’ information.
While such measures may help reduce the risks of data breaches, there’s a need for individual internet users to take personal responsibility to keep their digital lives secure. To help you achieve this, we have discussed tips on how to keep your digital life secure. Read on!
1. Make Use of The 2-factor Authentication
2-factor authentication refers to an electronic security process that requires you to successfully provide two different pieces of evidence to an authentication mechanism to gain access to an online account. Therefore, if you have online accounts, ensure you use 2-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security.
As such, whenever someone tries to access your account, they will be required to provide both the password and the code sent to your phone to gain access to your online account.
2. Secure Your Network Using a VPN
Did you know that your internet service provider can access everything you do online? This is because your IP address lets them.
In that case, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you surf the internet anonymously, secure your data transmission, and even bypass geo-restrictions. A VPN encrypts your data transmission online, helping you mask your online activities.
3. Avoid Clicking Any Link You Come Across
As you browse the internet, you may come across a myriad of links that ask you to click them to access some sort of promotions or giveaways. While some of these links may be genuine, others are meant for conducting phishing attacks online.
These phishing attacks usually come in the form of emails. Therefore, ensure you know where an email comes from before clicking any link. You can also use phishing detection software to detect phishing emails sent to you.
4. Turn Off Your Location When Using the Internet
You increase the chances of being hacked when your location is turned on. Therefore, whether you use a smartphone or computer to browse the internet, ensure your location is off.
It’s worth noting that sometimes, the websites you access online will ask you to share your location. In such cases, dismiss the request by saying no. Saying yes gives people, including hackers, the ability to use tracking technology against you.
5. Use Strong Passwords
A lot of people use easy-to-remember passwords, including birthday dates and their pets’ names. Luckily, many websites will require you to come up with a strong password when creating an online account.
This includes having up to 8 characters as your password, including a capital letter and a unique character like @ or #. Also, ensure every online account has a different password.
6. Get A Reputable Antivirus Solution
If you are fond of downloading files online, the chances of encountering malware are very high. Some of the common malware found online include trojans, viruses, spyware, and many more.
To ensure the security of your data, make a point of getting reliable antivirus software. Also, ensure you keep the antivirus up-to-date so it can detect and keep emerging threats at bay.
7. Encrypt Sensitive Emails
While email encryption has long been a popular online protection method in the business world, it’s high time everyone used it to protect their digital lives. Therefore, whenever sending emails containing your personal information, including social security or credit card numbers, ensure they are encrypted to protect that sensitive data from hackers.
Email encryption involves encoding the content of your email to make it appear scrambled to everyone else apart from you or the intended recipient. This is how this method manages to safeguard your personal data when being transmitted via email.
8. Limit the Number of People Who Can Access Your Accounts
If you run an online business that requires several administrators to log into your accounts, ensure that you reduce them significantly to remain with only trusted individuals. The more people you allow into your accounts, the higher the chances of making errors.
Moreover, avoid unnecessarily logging into your computer as the administrator. Doing so will increase your account’s vulnerability.
Conclusion
With an increased rate of cyberattacks, the need to secure your digital life cannot be over-emphasized. From using strong passwords to using a VPN when using the internet, the tips above will ensure you take control of your online security.
