Staying safe online from cyber threats
February 9th is a national holiday representing and highlighting Internet Safety. The reason why it is so important that you take great care when surfing online is to avoid running into viruses, malware software or other types of threats to yourself and your device. There are a number of precautions that you can take to minimise the risk of running into any problems.
1. Keep your personal information private
Many hackers and malicious softwares will attempt to steal your personal data and use it against you, likely threatening to release that private information unless a ransom is paid. Keeping your personal data private or very limited removes the risk of hackers having access to any information that they can use in order to threaten you.
2. Use a secure internet / VPN connection
Majority of public places now offer free wi-fi however, PCMag has noted that these connections aren’t entirely secure as you have no control over its security which could leave your device vulnerable. Many cybersecurity experts point out that your local internet connection is an ‘’endpoint’’. This is a private connection which links to the outside world, in this case your local internet connection. To help protect your device and internet safety, use a secure VPN connection which will establish and create a secure connection between your device and an online server. This way no other third party can track, monitor or access your data which you are exchanging.
3. Be mindful of downloads
Many cybercriminals aim to trick users into downloading malware in order to gain access to your information and steal it or encrypt it. Malware can be disguised through links, apps or files. We highly advise to not download or click on anything that looks suspicious or untrustworthy.
4. Only make purchases from secure websites
A secure connection or the presence of an antivirus software will tell you if any links / websites are unsafe to enter. Antivirus softwares are a great type of preventive programs that keep you safe online. If you don’t own an antivirus software you can also check whether a website has an SSL certificate which indicates whether this site is secure. You should see a padlock next to the ‘https’. If the lock has a cross running through it, it is not a secure website and it also won’t have the ‘s’ present in the ‘https’.
5. Ensure that your antivirus is kept up to date with
Although Antivirus softwares cannot protect your device from every single type of virus or threat, it will detect and prevent most malwares from being able to gain access to your device / information. Keeping your antivirus software up to date ensures that the programs system is functioning properly without any bugs or issues and is one of the most recent threats.
Knowing how to identify cyber threats, viruses and malware whilst establishing a secure form of cyber security will provide you with reassurance and security for your data in order to keep it secure. Our Security specialist can provide you with information and advice regarding staying safe online and choosing the right cyber security software for you and your business. For more information call 0121 289 4477 or visit our Cyber Security page here.
