The internet is one of the best modern-day resources we have. However, it doesn’t come without safety issues. While online, don’t fall prey to cybercriminals and be proactive about your internet use. Internet safety seems like common sense, but it’s always a good idea to review and teach your family. No matter your internet provider, whether it’s HughesNet, GotW3 4G wireless, Verizon, or MetroNet internet, here are our top safety tips for staying safe online.
Practice Safe Browsing
While you’re online, always remember to practice safe browsing. Don’t click on strange links, emails, and attachments from people you do not know. Clicking on spammy links can expose your identity, wireless network, and devices to malware and cybercriminals. While this is only one safety tip, it is the basis of internet safety 101 and will get you and your family started practicing internet safety.
Keep Personal Information Personal
Whenever you can, keep your personal information personal. The best way you can do this is by not sharing your personal information whenever possible. It’s up to you to keep as much of it to yourself as possible. In places like social media, people tend to overshare and not adjust their privacy settings. If you use social media, we recommend reviewing your privacy and security settings as soon as possible so you’re not accidentally oversharing with anyone that can see your personal profiles.
Even after you adjust these settings, it doesn’t mean you should post whatever you want on social media. Cybercriminals know about privacy settings and will do whatever they can to get their friend requests accepted by unexpecting people. You should still keep your personal information private at all times.
Choose Strong Passwords
Your online accounts are only as secure and safe as your password. Make your passwords strong and hard for cybercriminals to guess. It’s recommended that you make your passwords a minimum of twelve characters, including numbers, special characters, upper and lower case numbers. To make your online accounts even more secure, turn on two-factor authentication. Most accounts now have it available, and it will prevent cybercriminals from overtaking your account even if they do manage to get past your password.
Be Careful What You Download
You’ll want to download your favorite music, movies, and photos. While that’s to be expected, it’s only okay if you do so safely. Cybercriminals are everywhere you are and will try to trick you into downloading their malware. Please don’t allow yourself to be tricked by them. Only download your favorite media from sites you trust and reputable internet security software installed on your device. If the site you’re on looks suspicious or something doesn’t feel quite right, do not download from there.
Only Make Purchases From Secure Sites
There is nothing wrong with shopping online, just as long as you do it safely. Before you start browsing for your items, make sure you’re on a secure website. If you’re on a secure site, you’ll see “HTTPS” or a padlock listed before the website name in the address bar. Secure sites encrypt your personal information and payment information so cybercriminals cannot get their hands on it.
