11 Cool Tips That Are Vital for Staying Safe While Being Online

In the modern, fast-paced world, individuals utilizing the internet must possess the knowledge of safeguarding themselves. Yet, in the face of an ever-expanding array of methods hackers and fraudsters employ to access personal information, maintaining security is a formidable task. Fortunately, one does not need to possess advanced computer skills to ensure their safety.

1. Don’t use your fingerprints to unlock your device.

The fingerprint method is one of the most popular to unlock your device and many phones use it as a requirement. You only need to use it once for your phone to store it forever in its memory and have it being used by online browsers. It is basically a great alternative for advertisers to use your demographics in order to cater ads more effectively. So, while your fingerprints are a great way to keep our device safe, it also creates a lot of concerns regarding your privacy.

2. Pay attention to the URL address.

If the URL of a well-known website has any strange characters, it’s probably not the real thing. Fake networks send you to well-known websites with the intention of capturing your personal information.

3. Be aware of the fake online job recruiters.

Very often scammers search job websites and get the contact details of people who are truly trying to get a job. They pretend to be from some company that wants to offer you a job, but they first need to ask for some extra information. Many of those, will ask you to cash a check, keep a small amount and send the rest to another account. This is a “money mule” type of job and you could be easily caught and prosecuted for doing it.

• What to do: a serious company will never ask you to cash a check and send them the money to a different account. If you do get a job opportunity that sounds a bit sketchy, you can search for the company and try to find a number for the HR department. You can confirm with them if their proposal is for real.

4. Use different pictures for each of your social media accounts.

The profile picture you choose mirrors your identity and is viewable by the public on social media platforms. Conducting an image search could yield numerous profiles featuring the same image, potentially allowing individuals to gather information from these profiles to gain insights into your personal life. To enhance your privacy, it’s advisable to employ distinct images for each of your social media accounts. Furthermore, opting for smaller-sized pictures can help mitigate the inadvertent disclosure of personal details.

5. Avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi.

Using unsecured public Wi-Fi can be like ’inviting’ a threat to yourself. The reason behind this is that such networks are unsafe. Browsing on such networks could lead to getting tracked. Therefore, one must avoid entering social security numbers or any financial credentials while using public Wi-Fi.

6. Don’t verify your details through SMS-provided links.

Right under a previous message from your bank, you may receive a new message that looks genuine. However, the main difference is that the phishing SMS is asking you to go to some website and submit your details. Just by clicking on the link, you can put your phone and yourself in serious danger. Additionally, most scams will make you feel urged to do something as soon as possible.

Your first step is to call your bank and ask if they sent a message to you and if they need any information. They can tell you how to send them the fake SMS so that they can take action. Lastly, don’t click on any links since they might contain malware that can be harmful to your device.

7. Be careful before sharing your whereabouts.

Every time you post a picture, create a tweet, or check-in location, you are broadcasting where you are to a large audience. This way, you are inviting stalkers to track you. So one must try to avoid such activities.

8. Pop-ups and plugins can be a potential threat.

Pop-up notifications manifest in an array of forms and hues, potentially deceiving users into unintended clicks. While the majority may consist of annoying advertisements urging purchases, certain pop-ups harbor malicious intent. That’s why it’s advisable to activate a pop-up blocker.

Also, plugins that have languished without updates for extended periods become susceptible to attacks. These plugins are prone to harboring unaddressed vulnerabilities, which could be exploited to seize control of a website.

9. Never send money to online dates.

Romance scams are on the rise, and from 2019 to 2020, more than $304 million were stolen from victims. In these cases, the supposed suitor is asking for money because they are in serious need and swear that they will give it back to you very soon. Or they might be asking for the money in order to come and see you if you live far from one another. Whatever the case, you should never give money to someone you barely know.

10. Use incognito mode to open unsolicited links instead of clicking directly.

You’re likely familiar with “incognito mode,” which is also known as the private mode of browsing. This feature allows you to browse without revealing any data or history associated with a particular webpage. Therefore, opening unsolicited links in incognito mode is a much safer option than directly clicking on them.

11. How to recognize fake online shops.

For those of you who shop a lot online, these scams might be very familiar. What scammers do in this case is to build a well-presented website and list items will too-good-to-be-true prices. They might have the original price and next to their super discounted price that no one else in the market offers. But, when you pay for it, the order never arrives and before you can do anything about it the website has already been deleted.

If the prices are way too low, you have to wonder why that is the case and why everyone else sells the same thing but much more expensive. Also, on most of these websites, there aren’t that many details about the product and their customer service is usually bad. Before shopping from a store, you can look online for reviews to see if there are other people who have been deceived.

12. They create fake virus notifications.

As Microsoft informs us, scam callers will ask you to visit your home and “fix” an error on your computer. They might install malware that will help them steal your personal data. They can also create fake error pop-ups and offer you a solution, but only if you pay them a one-time fee.

Microsoft will never call you or email you. This is something that you have to do first. Also, if an error pop-up appears on your screen, call a private technician. Keep in mind that when real errors appear, there is never a phone number mentioned above them.

Feeling protected and safe is something most people have a need for and that’s why they get dogs as pets. But parents are also protective blankets that make sure their kids can share everything with them.