We all might think we know what it takes to roam the Internet safely. But there are some bits and peices that we often forget until it’s too late and we end up with a virus or worse – get scammed. So, here are five practical tips for staying safe when you’re surfing the deep waters of the Internet.
1. Make sure you’re on the right website. Especially, when you’re about to make an online purchase. Make sure that the website you’re buying your stuff from is really the right one. If you’re in doubt when paying – make sure to check for a “lock” symbol in the address bar indicating that the website is secure.
Also, if you’re purchasing something from a website like Ebay or Amazon you want to read some feedback on the seller to make sure you’re getting a right product and that the seller indeed exists.
2. Avoid paying over Internet in public places. If possible try not to purchase anything over a public WiFi, say, if you’re in a coffee shop for example. We’re talking about using your phone or computer to make a purchase and tapping in your credit card details. Most of the time it’s quite safe to do so but you’re never sure when there could be a danger of your data being stored, so just make a habit of not doing so at all.
3. Email safe. Don’t open an email you don’t expect and don’t provide any of your personal information over the email without confirming the identity of the person who’s asking and making sure it’s an official request. We’re all familiar with the requests for money transfers etc. that are quite commonly familiar as spam email at this point. Unfortunately, spammers got more skilful and can really write a good believable email. So, be careful who you reply to.
4. Install new programs safely. When you’re installing a new program, especially when it’s free, make sure that you read through every step of the installation and untick the boxes when you notice something you don’t need. Many program installations come with the “freebies” – free optional software pieces that sit in your browser or computer and come up with annoying pop ups or change your search routines. Most of the time these little freebies are harmless but they do become annoying. To avoid these, just untick the boxes when you see them coming up in the installation prompt.
5. Install AdBlock for your browser. There are many AdBlocks available for different browsers and you can just use Google to find the best for you. What these little add-ons do they not only block the unwanted ads that appear on YouTube, Google or on the side of your Facebook search. They also prevent the malicious pop-ups from spreading on your computer unnoticed.
If you need any more tips like this or you’re concerned with your Internet or computer safety – give us a call. Safe surfing!