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The internet is as chaotic as it is wonderful. We try not to think about it, but for every good cat meme there’s a scam or piece of malware ready to ruin your day. While the danger is real, you don’t have much to worry about if you adopt a smart cybersecurity routine.
Here’s a practical and easy checklist you can follow to stay safe without cybersecurity fears taking over your digital life.
Upgrade Password Security
Passwords are a powerful measure against cyberattacks if you use them correctly. Most people just reuse a handful or come up with easy ones that take seconds to crack. Reusing passwords is especially dangerous. If hackers figure out one account’s password, you can bet that they’ll try it and variations on other popular sites and services, too.
Luckily, keeping passwords safe is easy. A password manager generates and stores them automatically. The passwords are long, complex, and unique. That makes them impossible to guess and protects other accounts even if one password gets stolen or exposed. Replace all unsafe passwords with generated ones and use the manager for any new ones.
Ensure Automatic Updates Are On
While apps and browsers update themselves, some people delay system updates. These usually address known weaknesses, meaning that updating makes you as safe as you can currently be. The more you drag your feet, the likelier it becomes that someone will discover and use an existing exploit to harm you.
Accept system updates as soon as they’re available. Every now and then, it’s a good idea to go over the apps & programs you use. Uninstall any you don’t need, especially if they haven’t gotten updates in a while. Consider alternatives if developers are neglecting the apps you do use, too.
Keep Up with Scams
While the measures and tools mentioned so far already do a lot, they’re ineffective if you willingly hand over the keys to your digital kingdom. Cybercrooks count on this, so they focus more on tricking people than bypassing automated defenses.
Part of remaining safe is being aware of threats that target people. Phishing is always in fashion and trickier than ever to detect now that AI helps write the messages. Social media scams and deepfakes are on the rise as well. Learn how to recognize them if you’re not already aware, and refresh your memory a couple of times per year to not be fooled by the latest schemes.
Browse the Internet Safely
Browsing has become as second-nature as breathing, so it’s hard to recognize how even seemingly harmless habits can be harmful. How many times have you accepted all the cookies on a website without thinking twice or accessed sensitive accounts on public Wi-Fi? Websites use third-party and tracking cookies to help advertisers create buyer profiles of you. Meanwhile, even unskilled cyber crooks can monitor or duplicate a Wi-Fi hotspot and steal your info or secretly infect your devices with malware.
Follow these tips to browse safely:
- Don’t visit sketchy websites (their address starting with http instead of https is a good giveaway);
- Only accept essential cookies unless absolutely necessary;
- Use a VPN app whenever browsing through public Wi-Fi to encrypt the connection and maintain your privacy;
- Avoid clicking on links from suspicious messages and websites;
- Install an ad blocker for a cleaner browsing experience and less risk of clicking on malicious ads.
- For the reputable and best VPN price choices check user reviews and experiences before deciding.
Maintain Backups
So many meaningful aspects of our lives are now digital. Cherished photos, heartfelt chats, and important business documents all qualify. They can also be gone in a heartbeat if your phone or laptop gets stolen or damaged.
Keeping up-to-date backups will prevent this. Storing a copy of your most important files in the cloud is a good start. You’ll want to make another on a USB stick or offline drive, just in case. Regularly make sure that these backups are accessible and intact to avoid nasty surprises if and when you need important files restored.
