Since the dawn of time, there have been criminals, and with each new human innovation, criminals have adapted to make stealing easier. Criminals countered the invention of bank guards by tunneling, the safe by safe cracking and robbed trains by posing as passengers. The advent of the internet has been no different, many of today’s criminals have evolved into “cybercriminals” capable of stealing your identity online. Here are a few tips to prevent you from falling victim to cybercrimes.
1# Have a difficult password
This is a no brainer. While it’s tempting to have an easy to remember password such as password or your spouse’s name, these are easily guessed by hackers. In order to mitigate risks, your passwords should be at least 8 numbers or letters and contain special symbols such as “!,” “@“ or “$.” If you want, you can include these in an easy to remember password, however if you make up a password that has little or nothing to do with you and utilize this system, it makes you as safe as you can be.
2# Vary your passwords
Since we visit multiple websites on a daily basis that require passwords, it’s tempting to use the same password for everything. While this makes it easy for you to access your content, it also makes it easy for hackers, because if they guess one of your passwords, they can access all of your information. Make sure to create multiple passwords that utilize the “safe password system” outlined above.
Since you may have trouble remembering all these complex passwords, feel free to write them down in a book-never put them into your computer. While a password book can be lost, it is unlikely that this will happen (especially if you leave it at your home). A spreadsheet or emailed list of passwords, however, is quite vulnerable to hackers.
3# Stay away from bad sites
Just like going to the wrong neighborhood increases the risk of being the victim of a crime in real life, going to the wrong websites increases the likelihood of becoming the victim of an online crime. Sites on hacking, adult content or obvious scams are the equivalent of going into a bad neighborhood at night. Avoid them at all costs.
4# Don’t access pop up ads
Pop up ads can often show off products that you may be interested in, but never click on these ads, as they can lead you to a disreputable site. Instead, if you are interested in a product, access that website directly by going to it manually.
5# Choose a VPN
this is your solution to prevent cybercriminals interested in your personal data from tracing your Internet activities. By using a VPN, you will ensure that your online banking, all your downloads and in general all your online activities will do safely.
All you have to do is selecting a VPN server in one of the available countries to protect all your Internet activities with a secure virtual VPN tunnel, including a very strong encryption. Your IP address will be automatically replaced by an anonymous IP address in the country you have selected, allowing you to surf the internet safely.
6# Research your bank or other provider
Just because you are safe, doesn’t mean that the people you do business with are. Before choosing a bank or other service provider, do some research on their security procedures. Check out how many times they have been hacked and what they have done to address these issues. Make sure that you pick someone that is capable of keeping you safe.
7# Use a firewall
A firewall is an extra layer of protection designed to keep unwanted intruders out of your computer. While a firewall is included with every computer, it’s best to purchase a third party one to ensure that you get the most protection.
This Dusti Moore is an independent researcher and writer. She brings to know that enhancing Internet security and safety, nowadays, is not only possible – it’s easy!
(Free) Anti-Viruses, Firewalls and tools to hide the ip address such as VPNs just abound on the internet and are all there to help surf the Internet safely.
