Tips and Tricks for Keeping Yourself Safe Online

No one goes to bed and leaves the door to their house wide open; on the contrary, doors are locked and double bolted. For the truly paranoid, there are several doors before the inside of the house is accessed.

The same vigilance with which we protect ourselves in the physical world must be carried into the online world. With a lot of our daily routines and services moving online (partially due to the prevalence of social media), we need to remove laxity from our online security attitudes.

Here are some universal tips and tricks that you can use to protect your online presence.

1. Keep Your Antivirus and Operating System Updated

First things first, make sure you install an antivirus and ensure both the antivirus and the operating system are constantly updated.

1. Activate 2-step Authentication

Much like the several doors access mentioned above, 2-step authentication helps users add an extra layer of security to their online accounts. If supported by the application or service you are using, you can simply activate or enable it.

This typically means that the application will send a 6-digit verification code via SMS to your mobile phone or using an authenticator app that also generates 6 digit codes. Basically, to securely log into your account, you’ll need both a password and your mobile device with you, making it hard for hackers to get in.

However, if you are prone to crisscrossing the globe often, you might opt to use the authenticator app instead of an SMS service, especially if you mobile carrier does not offer roaming services.

1. Strong Passwords

This goes without saying, however, the majority of online users find long passwords - often provided by System Administrators - tedious and hard to remember. However, with the rise in account breaches (i.e. 1 billion Yahoo accounts hacked), users need to finally accept that strong, secure passwords are the way to go.

A lot of account creation pages now have validation that will ensure that you use a complicated password. Some like Apple will prohibit you from using the same password, when prompted for password renewal.

If you are still confused about what constitutes a good password, then Wired has seven tips for you: consider the length not complexity, keep your password as weird as it gets, do not huddle all your special characters together, etc.

1. Password Managers

If you are worried about remembering your passwords, then consider using a password manager like LastPass.

LastPass has some inbuilt features that will warn you about using the same password on multiple sites. It will also offer you the option of measuring the strength of your passwords through its Open Security Challenge feature. Like most software, it offers a free and premium package – however, the free package offers all the tools needed.

1. Be Careful With Links & Attachments In emails

The old adage goes, “curiosity killed the cat”. Today we can say that curiosity will crash your computer. Opening links and attachments from people that you do not know will lead to the theft of your personal information or the hijacking for your account for nefarious activity.

Emails have now become breeding ground for architects of phishing and malware attacks.

Phishing is a type of attack where sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, credit card information, etc. is stolen and then used for malicious reasons. In most cases, you will receive an email to change your password or verify your card information from a website that looks trustworthy.

Malware, on the other hand is malicious software that is intended to either disrupt computer operation or steal personal information. Malware can be obtained from downloading and opening applications from the Internet.

1. Watch Who You Visit

Today, the simple act of loading of can leading to inadvertently downloading malware or adware onto your computer, phone or tablet. Other websites can lead to the download of other malicious programs such as viruses or worms.

For newbie users, torrenting your favorite series can cause more of a headache than you realize.

1. Lock your phone

With the proliferation of mobile applications, a lot of users have resorted to using their phones to order and pay for services through the use of Mobile money or even mBanking. Mobile phones now offer access to credit card details, mobile money accounts, Payment wallets etc.

Ensure that your phone automatically locks after 1-2 minutes of inactivity and make sure your passcode or pattern is complex.

1. Install Software Updates

Endeavor to install software updates as they come, often these updates are created when vulnerabilities in a particular software or application are noticed. Refusing to download these updates can leave your gadget or device vulnerable to attack.

1. Secure Webpages

When making purchases or payments online, always ensure that you are using a secure connection. Some browsers have made this easy by adding a green section in the URL bar or adding a padlock to show a secure connection.

If you are in doubt, you can click on the green section to get more information.

1. You too, are a target!

The sticking-your-head-in-the-sand routine does not work when it comes to online security. The belief that attackers will not compromise your account because you believe you are not high on the hit list or not a priority will lead to your downfall.

Assume that you can be breached and as long as you have information worth protecting, in your email, your online bank account, etc., you are a credible challenge for attackers.

1. Backup, Backup, Backup!

Think of this like having a spare key kept in a secure location or keeping copies of your important documents with a parent or a relative. Always back up your data, whether this is on a physical hard drive or storing an extra copy on a trusted cloud solution somewhere on the Internet.