How to stay safe online?

The act of staying safe online is something that is overlooked nowadays since access to social media is something so completely normal to us. However, in the days of widespread internet phishing and scamming as well as personal information being sold, online safety is more important than ever. Technology and social media are available at the touch of a fingertip so we must not forget the rules when being safe online. 

First of all, you should be massively careful when interacting with strangers online. When connecting with strangers online, it is just as important to be careful in the same way that you would in real life. Fake social media accounts can be used by hackers in order to gain trust and then hack your account. 

Secondly, be careful as to what personal information you share online. Never share your home address or your exact location in real time since this could put you or the people you are with in danger. You should also not post the exact details of an upcoming holiday for the same reason as well as the fact that it may be seen as an open invitation for your house to get burgled. You also should avoid posting any bank details or credit card details. 

In addition, you should ensure that your password is super strong. Using easy to remember passwords mean that they are easy for hackers to guess. A strong password will be something that is long, unique and comprised of letters (capital and lowercase letters), numbers and special characters (such as ! ? or #). Passwords should also never be shared between people, and you should never post your passwords on social media. 

You should also make sure to only make purchases via trusted online websites. Using random websites with no reviews can be dangerous since you will be inputting your personal banking information. If the website is untrustworthy, you may get scammed or have your account information sold to dangerous cybercriminals online. 

It is completely crucial for you to be careful of what you are downloading online. Make sure that you are only downloading trusted content rather than just clicking on any link you can find. When using download bait, cybercriminals can easily install malware onto your desktop and therefore access personal information including passwords and banking information. This is a big reason as to why you should make sure that your antivirus software is up to date, and if you do not have any antivirus software then this is a perfect opportunity to download some! 

Finally, using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) has been proven to massively increase your online safety. A VPN encrypts your data and hides your IP address by bouncing your location through different online servers worldwide. VPNs are great tools for when you are using public Wi-Fi since it encrypts your data, hiding it from potentially dangerous people who may want to use or sell your data. In addition, VPNs can hide your data from apps and your ISPs (Internet Service Providers) who also may want to sell your data to their partner companies. A hidden benefit of using a VPN is that whilst using them, you can access Netflix (among other streaming services) from other countries and as a result, stream a more diverse range of TV shows and movies.