Many of us who work in the Internet/Web Development business have this preoccupation with safety and privacy. People from other professions sometimes think we are pushing it too far, and that maybe we have become overprotective of our websites and web applications.
But believe me, we’ve seen what a lack of protection on the Internet can do. It takes just one malfunction, one little virus attack to destroy everything. So we must be very careful. Prudent IT people always have a backup of their information, and also at least once a month test their security and try to figure out better security strategies.
This is a good practice for anyone who is working or spending a lot of time online. You should always be careful with your online security and be selective about the pages you open. And you should also be careful with the links you click on, but we will tell you about that later.
So, how can you keep yourself safe on the internet? Here are our simple tricks:
1. Never Show Your Passwords to Others
It may seem trivial, but you will be surprised at how common this revealing your password to others leads to trouble. Your password is your key, and the one who holds it will not always ask for your opinion to invite themselves in your private life.
For example, if you share your email password with a family member, they could accidentally delete important messages or change your settings without you knowing. This can cause confusion and make it hard for you to use your email later. Keeping your passwords private helps protect your accounts and personal information.
2. Use Only One Password Per Service
Many people out of convenience, use the same password for several services. But the downside is that you give a master key to the bad guys to all your info and money. With the advent of decoding systems and AI, the risk of your password being compromised goes up, so please use just one password per service.
3. Change Your Passwords About Once a Month
Although this advice is more geared toward business owners and people who work online, it’s good to change password at least once a month. If you are a person who just casually serves the web daily, then you can do it few times a year. It takes only a few minutes. You will also need to choose longer passwords of between 8 and 16 characters, and have at least one number and one special symbol (like !, @, #, or $).
For example, instead of using a simple password like “password123,” consider something like “$ecureP@ssw0rd2024!” This not only meets the length and character requirements but is also much harder for someone to guess.
4. Do Not Click on Any Link That Looks Suspicious
Our rule is very simple: “if you do not know the source, do not click“. Scammers often send emails that pretend to be official correspondence but are the way to get you to click on a link that goes to their scam website so they can steal your data or your funds.
When you see a link, especially from someone you don’t recognize, take a moment to check it carefully. Look at the sender’s email or username—scammers often make small changes, like adding extra letters, to look like real accounts. Also, check the link itself; sometimes, scammers change one or two letters in the web address to trick you.
Instead of clicking on the link, search for the company or person on Google or type the website address directly into your browser (for example, the website of a bank). This way, you’ll be sure you’re going to the real site, not a fake one.
Watch for other warning signs, too, like spelling mistakes, strange formatting, or messages that push you to act fast. These are common in scam messages. If anything feels off, it’s better to be safe and avoid clicking the link. Taking a little extra time to double-check can help keep your personal information and devices safe.
5. Never Give Your First Dog Name
This information is very often used as a control question on emails and financial institutions websites. So telling this information to someone together with some details from your life can give them the access to your email and your bank accounts.
For example, imagine you’re chatting on social media or answering one of those fun “Get to Know Me” quizzes. You might mention where you grew up or share a story about your first pet. To you, these seem like innocent details, but they’re the exact kinds of information hackers look for. They could use this information to reset passwords and get into accounts like your email, bank, or social media.
6. Write Down Your Master Password
If you use password managers to store your various passwords, be sure that you don’t also autosave the password to the password manager. Never save this master password because this way you give bad guys a chance to get to all of your other passwords.
This is the great danger of using password managers, we all use them and like them, but if someone get hold of your master password, he gets access to all of it. So please write your master password down on a piece of paper and keep it next to your device. With time you will be able to remember it and just enter it, but for the time been keep it close.
Bonus Tip: Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to verify your identity through a second method, usually a text message or a robocall or an authentication app, in addition to entering your password.
For example, when you log into your bank account, you first enter your username and password. Then, the bank sends a code to your phone by text. You need to enter that code to finish logging in. This way, even if someone knows your password, they can’t get into your account without the code. Some platforms, like Facebook and Instagram by default use this method.
Conclusion
In today’s online world, it’s important to use internet safety tips to protect your personal information and secure your online transactions, by using strong passwords and being careful about the links you click on. By following these 6 tips for staying safe online like having strong passwords for your online accounts, be cautious of phishing scams and malware, especially when accessing personal data over public Wi-Fi, you can stay ahead of cybercriminals, keep your devices safe, and protect your family from threats like identity theft and online scams.
If you have a problem with your personal online security, or you want to make to protect your online business better, don’t hesitate to contact us immediately! We’ve been helping clients keep their websites safe for over a decade.
