According to research conducted by Statista in January, there were around 5.16 billion people who use the internet all over the world. This makes up around 64 percent of the world’s population. Of this total, around 59.4 percent of the people in the world that becomes more than 4.76 billion people use social media platforms. This number has grown to a considerable extent until today.
With the number of internet users growing day by day, the number of threats lurking around the cyberspace has also increased. To combat this, different experts suggest numerous solutions and protective measures for internet users. For instance, users are always instructed to keep complex passwords that are not easy to guess. You can do the same to protect your routers as well. For routers, it is better to update them and make them inaccessible to unauthorized users.
Also, there are many internet deals and services that provide users with security and a convenient environment for using social media and online shopping platforms.
Let’s have a look at a few proactive measures to protect your online presence at all times:
Install Security Suites on Your Computer
This is one of the common practices where users secure their computers and other devices connected to the network using different tools that prevent malicious software from compromising their data and systems. There are many tools that offer anti-theft, anti-spam, password management, website authentication, and other features to secure sensitive data like customer information, financial information, and data breaches. You can look for different AVG Internet Security, Norton Antivirus, McAfee, and other security suites to protect yourself and your family online.
Make Sure You Check Encryption on Apps before Using Them
It is important that the apps you use on your smartphone and computer are encrypted before you make transactions online. This way you can secure your identity and online activities effectively. To begin with, you must look for a “padlock” that makes an app or website more trusted for use. Apart from this, you should make sure that the website URL you are about to visit starts with HTTPs.
These two signals are major signs that the website is encrypted and the information you are provided on the website cannot be viewed by anyone else. Encryptions are used to protect your credit card number, phone number, identity, and other information of your customers.
Create Easy to Remember and Strong Passwords
This is one of the widely used ways to protect your identity online. Users are supposed to create strong and easy-to-use passwords for their online accounts. But make sure that you do not create a password or passphrase that can be guessed easily by hackers and other malicious intruders. For instance, you should avoid using a phrase, date, or word that is associated with you in any way. Your password is supposed to be a generic combination of numbers, alpha-numeric characters, etc. that is easy for you to recall.
Apart from this, you can use password management software/apps that can help you create and store passwords in a Master Vault that is encrypted. You can retrieve passwords for your account easily using a single tap or click if you do not want to type the entire password in front of other users.
Avoid Conducting Transactions over Public WiFi
Public WiFi connections are used and accessed by almost everybody and anybody who wants to use free internet. These are mainly provided by malls, restaurants, cafés, etc. Besides this, many hackers use public WiFi to infiltrate accounts and devices. So, if you are supposed to use the internet over a public WiFi connection, it is a good idea to use a VPN and avoid using the internet for business and personal transactions.
Conclusion
Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for loopholes and honeypots in your system and other sources you use to connect to the internet. This results in a considerable financial loss and loss of assets as well in many instances. To avoid this from happening, you must use the necessary preventive measures to keep yourself and your family safe online.
You can also look for ISPs who provide internet services and security suites that keep you and your assets safe online. Consider using internet services by Spectrum, Smithville Communications, TDS Telecom, and so on.
