Protect yourself now. Because a lot of danger lurk in the internet.

At present, the internet has become an essential in every household. Whilst it has certainly made our lives much easier there have been cases where others have been taking advantage of the internet and misused it for harming others. The following should be kept in mind for keeping a safe side form various cyber crime.

  1. Antivirus:

For any device that has access to the internet, a reliable antivirus is mandatory. Under no circumstances should an individual operate ones technology without an antivirus. It protects the device not only from viruses and spams but also checks any malicious activity (phishing attacks, worms, Trojan horses, and rootkits) which may make any confidential information stored in your device vulnerable to others.

  1. Adding an extra layer of security:

While adding an extra security option may seem like too much work to do or at times even unnecessary, it is very important to do so. It is highly advisable to add step 2 verification for your emails or any other social media such as facebook, twitter etc. which requires you to provide access to your phone. It means that even if someone guesses your password and signs in they still cannot get to your account because they don’t have your phone.

  1. Strengthening passwords:

Most of us have the tendency to forget passwords and as a result of which we make them quite simple or we use some common words and phrases or even put some personal information (like phone number or birthdate etc.). However, doing so only increases our chances of getting hacked. It is recommended that we use uppercase and lower case letters, numbers and symbols, not to put any personal information and to change them at regular intervals. Also, it is advisable not to use the same password for every account as if an intruder hacks one, they will hack all.

  1. Using the incognito tab:

We may have noticed while switching various tabs in our phones and PCs that there is a dark colored tab known as incognito tab. It doesn’t let the browser save the sites you have visited. The browser will not be able to see anything you have downloaded from the incognito tab. Although, your internet service provider will be able to see them your history and records, it will remain safe form the browser.

  1. Covering your webcam when it is not in use:

Although it may seem as if we are being very skeptical and doing so is absolutely unnecessary whatsoever, there have been numerous reported cases where an intruder has hacked onto your webcam and has a direct audio visual access to your room without your knowledge. Imagine a creepy stranger out there who is watching you through your own webcams, misusing all the information he receives. PCs and laptops are more vulnerable to these sorts of crimes in comparison to mobile phones.

Thus, it is advisable to disconnect your webcams or at the very least cover it with a cloth or piece of paper while it is not in use.

  1. Keeping your privacy intact:

At present, almost everyone have their own personal account on any social media such as facebook, twitter etc. where they have kept their personal information(like mobile numbers, address, bank account numbers) for the world to see. Anyone who looks up their profile can see his/her personal information easily if proper privacy is not activated. Keep your privacy settings as high as possible.

  1. Not updating personal information:

The more information you update, the more information you are providing for others to see. It seems as if you are filling in the blanks using your information. Some sites simply ask for your personal information and misuse it. One must be certain and make sure that it is a trusted site before uploading any type of information there. Therefore, the little you update, the better.

  1. Don’t befriend people you don’t know:

Adding unknown people to your friend list will only add to the risk of exposing yourself out to the strangers. Not everything you read online is true and not everyone you meet online is the same as they appear to be. Talking to them and meeting up with the people you have met online is a straight NO.

  1. Think carefully before uploading videos and photos online:

Before you post photos or videos online think twice because once it is out there, others can easily see it and download it. It is not only yours anymore.

  1.  Not downloading random newsletters and applications:

Before subscribing to random sites and newsletters check thoroughly if it is important to you and if the site can be trusted because some sites can do so just to gather some information about you. Downloading unknown applications can cause malware to infect your device exposing all the files in it.

  1. Do not click everything you see:

Before clicking any promising advertisements and links here and there be certain that it is not some sort of trap or spams which will only cause you trouble. Not everything you see in the internet needs to be pondered upon.

  1. Parental supervision:

If any site asks parental supervision if you are underage, please seek it. If there is anything which makes you uncomfortable then leave the site, turn off the computer and tell a trusted adult immediately.

  1.  Stand up for cyber bullying:

If you see any content that you feel is inappropriate then feel free to report it. Most of the sites provide you with the option to flag or report any abnormalities you find. If someone tries to harass you there are several authorities you can report to.

At last, we urge you to be cautious and skeptical while you are on the internet. Pay attention to minute details. Make sure you read the terms and conditions. You do not have to provide information online as the information which we share to the world may come and bite us back. Be careful.