Cybersecurity

5 Simple Tips to Protect Personal Information Online

June 27, 2016

In a world with more internet-connected devices than people, protecting yourself from online threats has never been more important. Despite knowing the risks out there, many people still haven't taken the appropriate measures to protect themselves. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to make sure your home network and personal information are more secure.

Use Different, Complex Passwords

The most common mistake people make is using simple passwords and using those passwords across all of their devices and accounts. By using complex and unique passwords for your different accounts, you make it much harder for a hacker to access your information, and you minimize your risk by making sure one password hack doesn't give someone access to all of your online accounts. Think about it this way: If you use a simple repeated password, a hacker getting into your email means they're likely getting access to your social media accounts, your bank information, and any number of other accounts. Make it a top priority to improve the complexity of your passwords.

Secure Your Home Network

Another common mistake made at many households is not taking measures to prevent outsider access to your home network. Access to your home network doesn't just mean the ability to use your WiFi. Once a hacker has breached your home network, they have the ability to access data from your computer and other connected devices. The absolute worst mistake you can make is not having your home network password protected. Most wireless routers come with a default password, but not having a password is still a mistake people make. Speaking of default passwords, you'll want to change that as well. Default passwords can be predictable; making it too easy for hackers to crack. Lastly, another relatively easy step you can take is to not broadcast your WiFi network at all. Every router should have an option not to broadcast. By opting for this setting, anyone looking to access the network would have to type in the name of the network to even be able to see it as an option.

Be Careful When Downloading Software

You have to be very mindful when downloading software. When downloading anti-virus scanners or any other type of software, make sure the website you're downloading from is trustworthy. Ads on random websites aren't always legitimate, and you could end up downloading something that will do more harm than good. If you're looking for a trustworthy place where you can download software, Bleeping Computer is one great option. Another tip when downloading anything online, even just a browser like Chrome or Firefox, is to make sure you uncheck all of the additional features that are typically included by default when the software is installed. You can either do this manually and uncheck everything yourself, or you can download an app like Unchecky, which will do it for you.

Watch Out For Unexpected Emails

Random emails aren't just annoying; they can also be a security threat. Hackers will attach files that, if downloaded, will begin an encryption process on your computer. The primary file types to be wary of are .exe and .bat, but even PDFs can be dangerous. The best thing to do when you aren't expecting an email is to delete it or mark it as spam.

Monitor Your Children's Activity

Another part of creating a safe cyber environment at home is to make sure you know what your children are doing online. A Microsoft family account is a great tool for parents. Not only can you limit time spent on devices like the computer or Xbox, but you can also limit the websites children can access, monitor their activity, and receive email updates about what they've been doing.

Remember Security Trumps Convenience

If there's one thing to take away from this post, it's that security is more important than convenience. Is it more convenient to use the same password for all of your accounts? Yes, but when dealing with something as serious as keeping your personal information safe from hackers, convenience should never come before security.

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About

5 Simple Tips to Protect Personal Information Online

Use Different, Complex Passwords

Secure Your Home Network

Be Careful When Downloading Software

Watch Out For Unexpected Emails

Monitor Your Children's Activity

Remember Security Trumps Convenience

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