10 Tips for Staying Safe Online

10 Tips for Staying Safe Online

Cybersecurity is a term commonly used to describe the various ways you can protect yourself when you go online from your preferred Wi-Fi/internet-connected PC or mobile device or any other internet-enabled device. 

To leave yourself less vulnerable to cybercriminals, also known as scammers, fraudsters, hackers, and bad actors, you must stay vigilant and use as many ways as possible to protect your PII (personally identifiable information) and keep it safe at all times. 

It also means protecting your money, preferred payment method details, and any other private/sensitive data you may have stored either locally on your device or on any websites you visit. 

With that in mind, here are ten useful tips for staying safe online in 2024. Some of these methods are free, whereas others require a one-off or monthly/yearly ‘rolling’ subscription fee. 

 

Ten ways to protect yourself when you next go online

Your online security should be your number one priority and never be overlooked. If you are looking for some simple and effective ways to protect yourself and not fall prey to cybercriminals, try to remember the following ten useful tips:

1. Always use antivirus software from a reputable company, such as Bitdefender, McAfee Total Protection, or Norton 360 Deluxe, to name a few.
2. Switch on Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) login security measures on your favourite websites. Examples include facial/voice/fingerprint technology, one-time passcodes, etc.
3. When purchasing items from eCommerce websites or topping up your online gaming accounts, use trustworthy online payment companies and only buy goods, services, products or content from reputable sites. For example, if your preferred online payment method is Klarna, only use this secure deposit option when you play on fully licensed and regulated Klarna casinos.
4. When creating a new password for any of your accounts, make sure it’s not easy to guess. Try to include at least 10 to 15 characters, including a mixture of symbols, letters, and numbers.
5. Never share your password with anyone, and never save your password on any of your devices or online accounts, especially on a shared computer.
6. Change your passwords at least once every six months.
7. Be careful when using a public Wi-Fi connection, and turn off Auto-Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connect settings. 
8. Stop and think when visiting websites. If something doesn’t seem right, it might be a dangerous site, and never download/open/install files or programs that you think are suspicious.
9. There are many different types of websites, such as eCommerce, iGaming, blog, business, non-profit, travel, renewable energy, financial/personal banking, and educational websites. When visiting them, always check they have the necessary SSL or TLS (Secure Socket Layer or Transport Layer) cryptographic encryption, which keeps your sensitive data/funds/online accounts safe from cybercriminals, and make sure the URL in the address bar starts with https://.
10. Many online businesses allow you to use VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to access their websites, so consider NordVPN, Express VPN, or Surfshark VPN, to name a few.

 

How else can I protect myself online?

Some of the other things you can do to stay safe online are things like keeping all of your software, programs, and apps up to date. Turn on as many user privacy settings as possible, and perhaps consider backing up all your important files on an external device in case you ever fall prey to cybercriminals. 

Most of the time, you will have nothing to worry about when you go online to play games, update your social media accounts, watch movies or TV shows, check your bank or digital wallet accounts, or do your weekly groceries because trusted website operators with legitimate businesses tend to employ a range of cybersecurity techniques to protect users. 

For example, reputable businesses use highly advanced firewalls to protect their websites from various digital threats, such as DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks. Staying safe online also means using common sense in certain situations. 

For example, always be suspicious of emails sent to your inbox from your online bank or digital wallet or emails from any other websites you have registered with/subscribed to because it could be hackers pretending to be from those websites using highly sophisticated phishing scams with malware or spyware that can harvest your sensitive data or damage your device. 

Whenever you go online, stick to the safe and secure websites owned by reputable/legitimate businesses, and avoid visiting websites that ‘look and feel’ unsafe. 

Should you decide to subscribe to an antivirus service or use a VPN, you may find that some companies have a range of price plans available to suit all budgets. In fact, you can also now find plenty of free antivirus software and free VPNs. 

However, you may want to consider a paid antivirus subscription to give you and your family the best possible protection. They aren’t expensive, and each package has various features that can protect one or multiple devices. 

The most reliable paid antivirus software can detect and remove harmful viruses from your preferred Wi-Fi/internet-connected smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. 

This kind of protection is easy to use and will keep you safe wherever you go online. You won’t have to worry about your online accounts being compromised by cybercriminals, which should help you sleep better at night.