From a cybersecurity perspective, the internet can be a pretty ominous place. From cybercriminals to malware, there are things that absolutely need to be avoided on the web. Actually avoiding these things is easier said than done, though.
While it may be impossible to cut out threats entirely, there are definitely ways you can limit risk. Here are the 5 things you should absolutely, positively never do while online.
#1. Give Your Personal Information to Unfamiliar Sites
Maybe this sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people recklessly add their personal information to websites they had never heard of just five minutes prior.
The type of information you really shouldn’t divulge unless you’re completely comfortable with a website includes home addresses, social security numbers, credit card information, and beyond. In general, if you wouldn’t want something to be public information, you also shouldn’t put it on a site you don’t trust.
#2. Click on Unfamiliar Links
The most common way malware gets downloaded onto users systems is by users clicking on phony links. We’ll get to phishing emails in a bit, but for now we’re referring to links you’d find on websites you may not trust.
Although the entirety of the site may not be malicious, it only takes one bad actor to post a link on a website, possibly on a pop-up ad, that will infect your computer with damaging malware. A solid rule of thumb here is to never click on a pop up ad unless you are very familiar with the company.
#3. Spending Too Much Time on Public Wi-Fi
We’ve all had to use the public Wi-Fi of a restaurant or cafe at some point in our lives, and in moderation, this is typically fine. But risks begin to present themselves when you spend extended periods of time on these networks.
Public, shared networks offer hackers easy access to other devices where they can inflict damaging malware onto devices. There is also a significant issue of encryption on these networks, making it excessively easy for your information to be stolen.
#4. Don’t Post Photos That Contain Personal Information
This is another issue that should go without saying, but social media seems to have strange effects on people’s common sense. When posting photos anywhere, particularly on social profiles, ensure those photos don’t have any private information on them.
Information to leave out of your photo includes home addresses, bank account numbers, cell phone numbers, and more. No matter how great you might think the photo is, don’t post it if it contains any of that information.
Much of internet safety boils down to common sense. Unfortunately, all of us occasionally have lapses in that department. But, at the very least, never, ever do the things listed in this blog.