Online security - Stay safe from hackers, viruses, malware
Follow these simple steps to protect your confidential data and privacy while using internet. Be aware of Online threats and how to stay safe using internet.
Protect your Identity
1. Avoid using Lazy Passwords online
Choosing easy passwords like 'abcd', '1234' etc are unsafe. It will be just like locking the house door and putting the key in the door itself. If you are using passwords for any online accounts avoid using such type of passwords and come up with long passwords which contains combination of numerals as well as characters. It is most preferable that provide passwords with something that is significant only to you. For example, if your favorite game is football, then swap out the letters with numbers that represent the same letter, here in the case of football, you can create a password: f00tba11. Likewise you can easily come up with strong and interesting passwords which can be understood only by you.
Note: Always keep unique passwords for different accounts. If you feel uncomfortable in memorizing each and every password for variety of accounts, then you can check this out: Keeping a password as the base, derive plenty of other passwords with adding a logical modifier to each password. For example, in case for f00tba11, use gmailf00tba11 for Gmail account, fbf00tba11 for Facebook account etc. 2. Read the fine print, before Signing up into any online sites
Avoid signing up before reading the full print, in order to avoid receiving any junk mails or any type of online spams and scams. While signing up into the sites, look for a small box which may appear somewhere near the bottom of the page, which will ask you whether you need to receive any information from other companies. It is recommended considering this box before signing up. Some of the best sites will provide you a statement list, where they will assure you about the safety of your identity. Such sites will never sell your name or identity to third parties, but still there are possibilities that they may spam themselves to you. Some sites may ask full information about you to get a particular product, in such cases provide details only for which are mandatory, information which have to be provided as mandatory will be marked as '*', only provide your details over there and rest of the box can be left for better safety. Also be sure not to give your full name, address or phone number to any online persons who are not trustworthy or who you may not know. Protect your internet connection
1. Turn off file sharing and network discovery
It is highly recommended for you to turn of the file sharing and network discovery, while using public wireless networks. Both the above settings will put yourself in danger, if not carried out cautiously. Your files and system can be accessed by anyone on the wireless network, if you use wrong settings. To ensure your complete protections change your network settings on your computer. If you are using Windows as your Operating System, then go to Control Panel/ Network and Internet/ Network and Sharing Center and disable the settings. In case of Mac OS users, you can disable this settings under System Preferences/ Sharing. 2. Use a regularly updating anti virus program
To ensure safety on your connection, it is strongly recommended to use anti virus programs with regular update and use a strong firewall settings. It is always allowed to use a firewall which came in to your system by default or you can use any other third party developed software program. But it is not recommended for you to use them at once, as there are possibilities to interfere with one another. Download Safety
1. Download particular files or softwares only from verified sites.
Before downloading any kind of softwares or even files, make sure that the site is being verified by any of the trusted sources. Downloading files or any other softwares from untrusted sites will end up in becoming a victim of scam or ending up in downloading files with high threatened malwares or other viruses which cannot be removed unless you format your PC. In case if you confuse any site to be a scam or not, then google the site name and check the results with the word 'Scam'. 2. Don't open email attachments from strangers.
Unless you trust a person or you have high security settings on your system, never tends to open an email attachments from complete strangers. Without ensuring both the above mentioned things, you will have to delete the mail on the spot. Because the mail you receive maybe junk mail that contains viruses that can even damage your computer. In order to avoid such kind of traps, it is recommended that you should make your to disable attachment previews by going into the email settings.