We’ve talked before about your online privacy, or lack thereof, in the digital age. While it certainly can be difficult to avoid having your data collected or personal information exposed, there are still ways to limit risk when browsing the internet.
Here are a few things you should do, and a few things you should stop doing, in order to avoid running into cyber trouble.
Be Wary of Unfamiliar Websites
There are a lot of websites these days. In fact, it’s estimated that there are well over 1 Billion websites on the internet in 2019.
While lots of these sites can be valuable resources, other sites can wreak havoc on you and your computer system. In some cases, spyware can be injected onto your computer from unsecured sites. That spyware can be used to collect your personal data and steal your information, and it can go completely undetected by your system.
Avoid taking the risk by sticking to websites you’re familiar with.
Be Very Careful of What You Download
Downloads have become sort of a risky business in 2019. While there are certainly times a download will be necessary, you should try to avoid unnecessary downloads, particularly if you aren’t comfortable with the source they’re coming from.
Occasionally, downloads will be misleading or entirely counterfeit, and will install malware or spyware directly onto your computer. This will also put your information at risk, and in many cases, slow down the functionality of your system.
Do your research before downloading anything off the internet, and stick to sources you trust.
Update Your Software
Software updates are mostly designed to keep your system running smoothly and securely. It can be easy to fall behind by an update or two, as sometimes these updates require restarts or other inconveniences,
A major benefit of these software updates is removing system vulnerabilities. Whatever company you bought your system from has a team of experts designated to finding, then removing, system vulnerabilities.
Take a few minutes to update your system. It can save you from disaster in the long haul.
While we may not have complete control of our safety on the internet, there are definitely ways we can protect ourselves from threats. Follow the rules above to keep your internet browsing a safe, productive, and positive experience.
Categorised in: antivirus, Digital Age, equipment, hacking, in the news, IT Consulting Services, laptop, Security, spam