Being safe in the internet is becoming harder and harder by the day. There are countless viruses, phishing scams and hackers out there who want nothing more but to use your information and data against you. Luckily, we are here to talk about some of the best tips you can use in order to protect yourself on the internet and surf without any harm.

Safely stored smart passwords

Using passwords on the internet is a matter of “when”, not “if”. Every single service, online portal, social platform or online games will ask you for a personalized profile and a password. When creating these profiles, choose your passwords carefully and make them smart. Never use a simple sequence of numbers or an easy-to-guess household item for example.

These passwords are not only open to random exploitation without implementing any sort of hacking software, but they also make you look like an internet amateur. Use smart passwords that only you could remember like inside jokes, special dates, etc. Always carry a backup of all the passwords you ever used with you or use specialized software for safely storing them online.

Make sure that you always back up your passwords and keep changing them regularly. While it may seem like a hassle, this is one of the best ways to stay protected while surfing the internet.

Use personal information wisely

Many online portals will often ask you for personal information such as an address or a date of birth. This information is mandatory for accessing most of the internet content and you have to be careful about how and where you enter your personal info. Some websites often try to deceive you into thinking they are something else than what they really are.

For example, a supposed social media website might ask you for personal information and credit card details, only there is something different about the whole website. It just seems slightly off, and the web browser link has symbols that are not supposed to be there. These sites are made for stealing your personal information and using it against you – avoid them at all costs. To avoid any phishing scams in the future, always check the link of the website you are visiting and keep personal details to a minimum.

Download files carefully

We are all guilty of downloading files from less than trustworthy sources every once in a while. However, knowing when a website is harmful for your computer and intends to do you harm is an important trait of anyone surfing the web. Make sure that you always keep an eye out for red flags that might make the content you are trying to download suspicions.

Many websites out there try to play a ruse on the unsuspecting visitors by allegedly offering movies, music or games for free – simply by clicking a button. These sites are usually reserved for harmful viruses and software that will ruin your data and should be avoided at all costs. If however you are visiting a legitimate source such as a OKdissertations.com, these problems are nothing to be concerned about. Trustful websites will always have a green “okay” sign in your browser link window that will make sure that you are safe from harm.

Use antivirus software

Installing and activating legitimate antivirus software is one of the first things you should do when setting up your new computer. Brands such as Avast and Kaspersky are known on the market as some of the safest, making it easy to choose which to use when it comes to your own needs. Many users fall into the trap of not using antivirus software and trusting their own skill and instinct when browsing the internet. There are numerous malware and spyware viruses out there who like nothing more than brave and foolish users who think they know best.

Before you know it, your computer could be infected beyond repair, opting for a fresh OS installation or even a new hard drive. Be smart and use proper internet protection for good measure – it takes just a few minutes and it could safe you days and weeks of potential damage repairs.

In conclusion

Knowing which websites to access and how to access them is a trick that takes a few tries to master. However, mistakes are bound to happen and sometimes it’s hard to protect yourself on the internet if you don’t know what the real threat is.

Take safety precautions and make sure that you only visit websites which you are sure of. Legitimate platforms and services will never ask you for personal information based on shady reasoning on an even shadier website. Use your brain and think before clicking any new link that may seem interesting. That is one of the most important parts of protecting yourself on the internet.