How to Protect Yourself Online

The internet has been a very risky place from the beginning and it is all because of our dependence on it too. However, with improved techniques and more awareness, we have learned to overcome the threats and better protect ourselves from them. You can find multiple resources and articles online that educate you about the different kinds of threats and how you can avoid them, to begin with.  

Due to the awareness and high demand, many internet service providers have improved their services to include protection with their internet plans. Whether it is in the form of software or additional features, you can now browse your options and find an internet plan and ISP that works for you. TDS internet deals are designed to protect you from viruses, spam, Trojans, Worms, and more. 

Similarly, you can find out whether your ISP or any other ISPs provide you any sort of protection with their internet plan or not. However, even if they do, it is important that you know how to protect yourself against threats. In fact, there are some things you can do to completely avoid threats altogether, so let’s find out what these are!

Don’t Open Emails from Strangers

At some point in our lives, we have gotten an email from a complete stranger. And more than once, we’ve all thought it was mistakenly sent. However, you can’t be sure it was a mistake, can you? Most of the time, unknown emails mean a threat. Another thing that you will find quite common in unknown emails is that there is always an attachment of some sort.

It could be a document, a picture, or some other file and you have the option to download it. Don’t do it! The chances of that file containing a virus are extremely high. You never know and you could’ve very easily lost everything on your computer because of that virus. 

You might even get emails from random people claiming you’ve won the lottery of some sort or that your bank account has been blocked due to some issue. Of course, all of these are just ways to get you to reveal some sort of sensitive information.

Naturally, you don’t need to respond or even open these emails. Just stick to the official emails for any banks, institutions, or any other organizations. Do not fall for their scams! If you have a good ISP or good plan, like any of the TDS bundle packages, any possible scam emails will directly be moved to your spam folder or just marked with a warning. 

Use Strong Passwords for All Your Accounts

Getting emailed by someone with a virus in tow is just the tip of the iceberg. There are talented hackers out there who use their skills for the wrong thing, unfortunately. And one thing they can very easily manage to do is hack your password. Once they have done that, your accounts are as good as gone. Any sensitive information in your account will be immediately compromised and spread around. So, to avoid all of that from happening, create a strong password for your account.

Don’t make it something as basic as ‘123450’ or maybe even your own name, mother’s name, pet’s name, birthday, etc. Anything that includes or relates to something close to you that you can or have to give out at some time should not be a part of your password. Try to make your password a combination of alphabets, numbers, and symbols, and it should also be something you remember. 

Update Your Devices Regularly

Your phone and tablet usually have the auto-update option for the apps. Make use of that and keep your device updated. With every update, there could be an improvement in security or something else. As for software updates, you should make sure that you keep your laptop and other devices updated as well. Regularly check for the latest updates, since you won’t get notified.

Use the Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication means that your identity will be verified via a code sent to your phone or to your email, whenever you try to log in somewhere. This is one way to secure your account and make sure that nobody, besides you, can log into the account. You might even be asked to identify the bear. 

Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi may be convenient in some cases, but it is dangerous to your devices. Someone can easily hack into your phone and steal sensitive information without you knowing at all, via public Wi-Fi. So, you should avoid using public Wi-Fi as much as you can, and even if you do use it, make sure that you are not entering any sensitive information on any website. Your information can be copied or recorded right away. 

One way you can use public Wi-Fi without risk is by using a VPN. If you use a VPN installed on your phone, then whoever is trying to hack it won’t be able to do so easily. Your data will be encrypted and so, they can’t intercept any transactions, processes, etc. 

A Recap

The internet is not a safe space at all. You can find or come across many threats online if you are not careful enough. To avoid these problems altogether, there are some things you could do:

1. Be careful of emails from strangers. It’s best not to open them and delete them right away.
2. Your passwords should not be obvious like your pet’s name, your birthday, etc. They should be a combination of alphabets, numbers, and symbols.
3. You should update your device regularly without fail.
4. Securing your account with a strong password is good, but you should opt for two-factor authentication, whenever possible, for extra safety.
5. Public Wi-Fi is always a bad idea, and should only be used as a last resort, and that also, with a VPN.

While we have covered the main and easiest tips for you to protect yourself, there are plenty more things you can do for your online protection. These include backing up your device regularly, educating your family about the dangers of the internet, and avoiding sharing personal and financial information.