Are you concerned about your Internet browsing safety? Follow these top 15 safe Internet browsing tips for everyone and enjoy safe surfing on the internet.
The internet has become an integral part of many peoples’ daily lives. However, with the increased levels of scams, malware, and hacks, it can be a dangerous place.
Unsafe browsing can lead to several threats, including the risk of losing data, being scammed of your money, or getting your privacy breached any time.
Thankfully, you don’t have to be a computer wizard to stay safe while surfing. The following tips for safe web browsing (Internet safety for kids, students, beginners, and adults) can help you learn how to navigate the internet without putting yourself at risk.
Here are the top 15 safe internet browsing tips you need to follow if you want to avoid getting into trouble online or offline as well.
Use Most Secure Internet Browsers
Safe browsing starts with your browser. While most web browsers are properly designed to protect you against common internet risks like social engineering malware, some are unsecure and don’t offer as much protection.
Some of the safest web browsers include Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge (latest version) and Google Chrome.
Use Strong and Unique Passwords
You probably have quite a number of accounts in your online life. It can be tempting to default to simple passwords you can easily remember. However, creating strong, unique passwords is the simplest and most effective way to keep hackers from stealing your information or infecting your system with malware.
A few guidelines for creating bulletproof password include:
- It should be more than 12 characters in length.
- Avoid using the same password across different websites.
- Include a combination of characters for complexity, including lower and upper case characters, numbers, and other special characters.
- Randomize your password, which means avoid using words in the dictionary, using your names or year of birth, or using common passwords like ‘password’ or ‘12345.’
Use Password Manager
You’ll need a good password manager to safely store and manage your entire passwords from the same platform, especially since safe surfing means turning off the ‘auto fill’ and ‘remember passwords’ options.
Some popular, trustworthy password managers include KeePass (free), 1PassWord ($2.99/mo), and LastPass (free).
Phishing Emails
When reading your emails, avoid clicking on embedded links in the message, especially those that promise get-rich schemes or cures, unless you know the destination. If you notice them, directly mark them as spam.
Turn on Two-factor Authentication
Enable multi-factor authentication on your accounts, especially the most critical ones like online banking. This will require extra information for you to log in, for instance, a code sent to your phone.
If someone tries to hack your account, you can use the second authorization method to recover your account and reset the password.
Update Your Operating System
While some operating systems will update automatically, others seek permission first. Unfortunately, most people don’t approve of their updates right way. Updating your operating systems as well as frequently used apps and programs covers small security breaches.
Customize Your Security Settings
Internet safety is not a one-size-fits-all. Therefore, avoid using open settings to prevent your online activities, instead go to the settings menu and customize it to fit your kind of online activities. For instance turning off features like cookies can improve your privacy, but can also minimize your browsing pleasure.
Confirm Site’s Security
One way to confirm a site’s security is by checking your browser’s address bar to see if it has a green padlock. If it has then the site is safe to use. Also, use URLs with the HTTPS prefix vs. HTTP.
Use Reputable Shopping Sites
Every time you make a purchase online you provide bank account or credit card information. Therefore, ensure you supply this kind of information to sites with secure, encrypted connections. You can check the site’s security as shown above.
Backup Your Data
As much as you take all the precautions to protect your internet safety, you still have to secure your data to protect it from unknown risks. Regularly backing up all your data and information ensures your information remains intact in case of a security breach. For the best protection, combine physical and cloud back-ups.
Don’t Use Unsecured WiFi
Public WiFi can be a great way to stay connected when you are out and about. However, free internet, like the kind found in restaurants or airports are often unsecured. They can open doors to your devices, giving hackers access to your personal information.
Avoid these connections, especially if you are providing banking information or purchasing stuff online
Install Reputable Antivirus
A good antivirus software plays a very important role in securing your devices from malicious software. It also cleans up any issues that may pass your system’s defenses. Just remember to keep it updated and set the program to do a full scan at least once a week.
There are several free antivirus programs and inexpensive premium options, so you don’t have an excuse for not installing one.
Be Careful What You Post
The internet doesn’t have a delete key. Whatever you post stays online forever, and can be used in a harmful way like impersonation or cyber bullying. And, even if you remove that embarrassing selfie you took or the comment you made, it doesn’t erase the copies others have made.
Hide Your IP with Virtual Private Network (VPN)
If you want to take internet safety to another level, you should consider using VPN services. These services protect your connection by hiding where you are connecting to the internet and encrypting the data in the connection.
This is especially important when browsing on unsecure WiFi networks. Some of the best VPN services include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, VyprVPN, and PureVPN.
Lookout for the Latest Scams
Internet threats keep evolving with each passing day, therefore, stay informed on the current threats. The latest online threat is “Ransomware”, where a hacker prevents you from accessing your system or personal files unless you agree to pay a ransom.
Conclusion
We hope this safe Internet browsing guide has helped you in knowing all the basic and important Internet safety facts so that you can use the internet safely and wisely.
If you found these safe Internet browsing tips useful for you then feel free to share it with your friends on social media sites.
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