We’ve heard it time and again – we might even call them famous last words… “It won’t happen to me”… and yet an unfortunate amount of people find themselves victims of online fraud or cyber crime. If you don’t already have safety mechanisms in place to safeguard yourself against online crime, the time is now. Rather be safe than sorry! Personal information is surprisingly easy to get a hold of online, but with the right care and attention, you can increase your online security and safeguard yourself.
Below are a few top tips / online security checklist to ensure complete online peace of mind:
- Be password smart – while it goes without saying that you should never share your password with someone else; you should also ensure that the one you choose is not easy to guess.
- Keep your email access secure – hacking email seems to be a firm favourite pastime for online fraudsters. Unfortunately, emails are easier to hack than you might realise. It’s not a case of simply keeping your password safe. Take it a step further and be sure to never click on links or download attachments from unknown senders. Also, ensure that your security program scans your email attachments before you download them.
- Shop safely online – if you’re shopping online, you’re undoubtedly using your credit card or debit card to complete the purchase. Unfortunately, this means that your payment details are at risk. A competent hacker or online criminal can access your details and use them for their own purchases.
- Safeguard yourself from potential loss, ensure that you only use websites that offer a secure payment gateway with “https” in the URL and also read through the payment security terms and conditions on each website that you use. Rather use your own computer or mobile phone to process online payments – this limits the risk of unscrupulous individuals accessing your details.
- Double up on account protection – most accounts allow users to access them with a simple user name and password and herein lies a risk! Opt for accounts where there’s a double barrier / protection, such as a user name and password as well as a cell phone activation or finger print access.
- Encrypt! If you have sensitive information that you need to store…store it off site. Online backups are important. If you opt for this type of storage, choose a service provider that offers encrypted storage so that only you can access the information stored, when required. Check out our cloud backup features here.
Want more tips and advice for safe and secure online activities? Contact us at Soteria Cloud via email or telephone today! Alternatively, let us know if you have any online safety tips or security experiences to share with us, and that we can pass on.