6 Cybersecurity Tips For Ensuring Your Online Safety

The number of cyberattacks is ever increasing. More than 59% of breaches are related to cybercrime. In this article we share with you a few tips that will help you secure your system and data and stop you from becoming a victim.

Limit Your Digital Footprint

A digital footprint represents the sum of everything you ever posted online. Therefore, before applying any kinds of expensive internet security measures, you should try to determine the size your digital footprint. Try to keep track all of your online accounts. This includes forums, chat room accounts made when you were young, social network accounts, etc.

In the future you should tend to reduce your digital footprint. Limit the number of online accounts you are have. For example, it is always better to purchase a reliable software than to create accounts required for using the suspicious online based services. Developers who provide free software will ask you for personal information, and some of them do have fraudulent intentions.

Use Passphrases

Using a strong password is one of the best ways to consolidate the first line of defense of your on- and offline accounts. Strong passwords should include numbers, symbols and capital letters. Pass phrases are even more secure if they represent the combination of randomly picked out words.

Passphrases should not contain famous quotations and song lyrics, rather they should include phrases that are easy to remember and type. Diceware is one of the best ways to pick out passphrases and it uses ordinary dices and list of words as password generators.

Purchase Wisely

You should be wary of websites that ask for your credit card data. They should enforce strict security measures that need to include Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protection. SSL, that is often used on e-commerce check-out pages secures credit card data shipments by dividing them into small and encrypted packages that get assembled at a safe location.

Users should check whether the e-commerce website they are using is PCI compliant. It should satisfy 12 of the most important safety requirements that prevent users’ credit card data from being snatched by cyber criminals.

Always Check App Permissions

The number of mobile internet users is constantly growing and a huge part of them are accessing their favorite online content through smartphone apps. Using a smartphone app usually requires sharing certain pieces of information, and the list of these should be specified within app permissions.

Most people instantaneously click “I Agree” when installing apps they need. App permissions should be carefully read and if there are some problematic requirements, you should definitely think one more time about installing the desired app. What is also important is the security of your IT support. Aim for the ones that have established remote server monitoring, as they are bound to keep you safe.

Another important thing about mobile apps is that sometimes they offer the same options as online websites, which make apps download unnecessary. Before installing each app you should be aware of all the benefits it could bring.

Spam Alert

E-mail spam filters are much more advanced these days, but there is still lots of spam that cunningly manages to get through and find its way into your inbox. This kind of mail often contains malware in the attachment or a link form. Even if you were tricked to open some of these messages, you should not click on any links they provide. If some mail gets through the filter, always mark it as spam, to make sure that the next time you get an email from the same sender it goes directly to your junk folder.

Think About Paid Antivirus Software

Although there are many advanced antivirus software solutions, users get much more reliable protection with subscription based packages. Paid antivirus packages come with anti-phishing, parental controls, anti-spam security and many other advanced cybersecurity solutions that are definitely worth paying for.

With these tips we only scratched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cybersecurity. By following these rules, you will definitely manage to keep your important data secure from cyber-attacks.