The Need for Online Protection!

The Need for Online Protection!

The internet has become the core technology that has united the world together for different purposes on a single platform. Whether you’re a business professional, a health specialist, an online gamer, a student, or a faculty member you have to consult the World Wide Web for day-to-day tasks. 

As we do everything on the internet these days, having our data and personal details online were more exposed to cyber threats more than ever before. We need to ensure our online security equally as much as we care about our physical security, our property, and our goods. Online threats are as dangerous as any other threats that we receive and one should never take them lightly or disregard them.

It can lead us to serious harm by stealing our identities and data, sensitive documents, involving us in frauds, breaching our privacies and blackmailing us for ransom, etc. Cyber threats can turn lives upside down for some people by doing irreversible damage to them. There is a number of ways to protect yourself against these online security threats and we are going to educate you on them in this article.

How to improve your cyber security?

Here are five simple yet effective hacks to keep yourself secure online:

• Sign up for a secure internet connection

The very first step you need to ensure for your online protection is signing up for a high-speed internet connection that will help you stay protected. High-speed internet allows you to back up your data and get quicker cloud access. It will help you monitor your network for problems and keep an update on your security systems in no time.

We recommend AT&T fiber internet plans for high-speed internet connectivity that will help you with safe web browsing and keep you protected online. You can simply call the AT&T customer service number and get help from a customer service representative that will help you with the installation process and provide you with more details about their internet plans.

• Back up your data regularly 

Once you have managed to get your hands on a secure internet connection, make sure you’re utilizing it to your maximum benefit. Back up your data regularly.  Hackers and cyberbullies may try to steal your data by a malware attack which can cost you a lot. They are likely to encrypt it and make it inaccessible for you to reach it. And the only way you can access your own data is by paying a ransom to them.

To avoid all these situations back up your data regularly even if you think of it as a difficult task just remember what cost you have to pay in case you lose it to a hacker. Keeping a backup can help you stay protected online and not fall prey to any cyber threats.

• Do not click on the links sent by strangers

Remember how cautious you are around a stranger publicly so that they cannot harm you physically? That is the same kind of precautionary measure you need to take online around a stranger. Be very careful while opening emails sent by strangers. Avoid clicking on the link they send you on your email addresses. No matter what the subject of the email is, never share your personal information, bank details, or any other thing they can use against you.

The emails that contain such links are a form of cyber-attack called phishing emails. Even if you do not open the link sent by an unknown sender, who is more likely to be a hacker, and only open the email, it can still do damage by infecting your device with malicious malware.

• Browse over known and secure connections

Are you browsing over public Wi-Fi? It’s high time that you stop doing that and start to surf on a secure and private network connection. Public Wi-Fi is not considered ideal due to security reasons. You can use it in case of emergency but doing sensitive online activities that require you to add your credentials or bank account details might give hackers an edge to access your financial details or even hack your online accounts.

If in case you have to use public Wi-Fi network, then always use a VPN to keep your data safe. A VPN uses a private encrypted line to send and receive information over the internet. But if it’s not necessary then prefer using known and secured private networks to browse over the internet.

• Secure all your online account with strong passwords

You must have secured your online accounts with a password, but using just a password is not enough. Make sure all your passwords are strong enough to not get easily predictable or hacked by any cybercriminal. Generate strong passwords using a nice blend of upper case and lower case alphabets plus characters and numeric. 

And never make the mistake of repeating the same password for more than one account. It makes your online accounts vulnerable in case one of the accounts is hacked.

Wrapping it up

Hackers are becoming smarter with the evolvement of technology and are using new techniques every day to harm your online security. You need to be one step ahead of them and protect your data at all costs. Keep your devices protected with antivirus software. Update all the apps and devices you use the internet over, regularly and avoid clicking random ads or links that pop up in your email or web pages.