Safe Internet Practices You Need to Know

Safe Internet Practices You Need to Know

Protecting your data is a big deal, here's how to go about it.

Riddle me this.

Would you leave the door to your house ajar knowing there are lots of valuables in it?

Would you deposit your valuables in a bank without carrying out due diligence?

The answer is obviously, No!

In our present dispensation, it's almost impossible to not have internet access whether at home, in school or at work. Almost everyone and everything is on the internet (for good and bad reasons).

As techies, all we do is basically online. Hence, it is very important that we tread carefully while using the internet. In order to protect yourself from the malicious aspects of the internet, we must at all times adhere to practical standards and safe internet practices. To do this we must understand the internet, its content, functions and uses.

Tips to Avoid Unsafe Internet Practices

  1. Never save your password on a site you're unsure of or a public computer.

  2. Be mindful of clicking on links with http (It ought to be https)

  3. Verify Identities of persons that send you messages (don't trust so easily).

  4. Don't be quick to share your personal data.

  5. Use ad blockers, most of those ads are viruses.

  6. Make use of VPN (Virtual Personal Network) as it creates a digital shell that protects connection.

  7. Make use of passwords(strong passwords containing alphabets, alphanumeric, symbols) and Two-factor authentication(2FA) for a second layer of security.

  8. Be mindful of clone sites, scammers use this a lot.

  9. Be quick to report any suspicious activity and promptly respond to security alerts

  10. Don't share passwords across gadgets and websites!

  11. Be very mindful of sites or applications that you open on public WiFi as data can be stolen.

  12. Add Anti Virus on your pc to protect you from malicious software like viruses, ransomware, spyware and always update them.

  13. FREQUENTLY SCAN AND UPDATE YOUR PC OR MOBILE PHONE SOFTWARES.

You have to understand that no safety protocols will save you if you trust everything on the internet. You need to have some skepticism when visiting sites, clicking on links, and downloading files, in order to significantly increase your online security.

For more tips on safe internet practices, watch this YouTube video by #TheADAproject Team explaining in detail other Internet safe practices

For further reading, check out this article to see some online tools (e.g haveibeenpwned, VirusTotal etc) which can be used to improve your internet security