Online safety is a concern for all of us. It covers such a wide range of concerns that knowing exactly what to do and when can be extremely difficult and confusing. In this article, we’ll go over ten quick tips which will help any user better protect themselves and their devices.
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Virus Scan
Viruses suck, and they aren’t going anywhere. Luckily for us, there are a wide-range of free virus scanners such as AVG AntiVirus which make scanning and repairing easy, quick, and cheap.
Malware Scanning
Cousin to the virus scan, and covering a few areas which virus scans do not, is malware scanning. Malware is not simply concerned with hurting your computer; instead, it tends to be focused on using your computer for the purpose of a third party, like an advertiser. Simply use a program like Malwarebytes to rid your system of these issues.
Ad Blockers
Some websites can simply not be trusted with advertisements. Ad blockers are simple browser extensions or add-ons which remove or mitigate ads which can insert some backdoors into your computer. You can also (and should) whitelist the websites which don’t use annoying ads in order to help support them.
Be Wary Of Executable Files
A common practice among digital bad guys is to use executable files to run things which shouldn’t be running. You see this sometimes when you download video or audio files when they come in .exe format. Be very wary of these, and run them through scans first if you think they might actually be legitimate.
Don’t Stick With Quick Installs
When we install software, as we do so often, we tend to try to complete this as quickly as we can. This means quickly clicking through install processes without paying attention to what is said. Instead, be sure to click customize if you can, and always pay attention. Programs will sometimes try to install other programs or toolbars alongside what you want, and these should not be trusted.
Watch Out For Phisherman
Phishing is the term given to mass mail scams sent out to millions of people. Often, users will receive emails from something like [email protected]. Generally, emails with such strange extensions should not be trusted, especially if they ask for you to verify accounts by entering your info.
Keep Updated
Nice and simple – keep your operating system and programs updated. More updates mean fewer holes and fewer points of attack.
Read Reviews
With so much software out there, it can be tricky to know what is right for you. When it comes to newer software, scores can easily be overinflated by upvote bots and fake reviews. If a program is rated perfectly but has only 14 reviews and glowingly suspicious reviews then try something else, at least until the program is better established, and especially if the program deals with money. There are also websites out there with positive reputations which manage these for us, which are especially helpful with monetary systems like online casinos. Many of these aggregators include lists of trusted companies offering no-deposit bonuses, and gamblers can test it out here, to find their ideal casino.
Don’t Use Just One Password
We know – it’s annoying to have to remember a whole bunch of different passwords, but it does make your online experience infinitely safer. We recommend doing some sort of word association for easy passwords. For those more complicated, or that you have to change, consider keeping a shorthand notebook available. If you code your passwords in shorthand so that only you can understand them, or even know that they are passwords, then it can be a lot easier.
Use Secondary Authenticators when Possible
Some websites and services allow you to download companion apps to phones or other devices. These can enable two-step verification, which can massively increase the level of safety on the applied system. This is an area which is still developing, so keep an eye out for changes with most user programs.