The internet has become an integral part of our daily lives. We rely on it for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, there are also risks associated with browsing the web. Malware, hacking, identity theft, and scams are unfortunate realities online.
The good news is there are steps you can take to browse more safely:
Use Trusted Software
Make sure you use reputable web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. These undergo regular security audits and patches. Avoid obscure or outdated software that may have vulnerabilities.
You should also keep your browser, operating system, and other software updated. Updates often address newly discovered security flaws.
Enable Browser Safeguards
Modern web browsers come with built-in protections:
- Pop-up blockers prevent unwanted windows from opening. Pop-ups are often used for ads or phishing attempts.
- Private/incognito browsing doesn‘t save your browsing history, cookies, site data, or entries you type into forms. This makes it harder for others to see what sites you‘ve visited.
- HTTPS Everywhere encrypts communications between your browser and websites to protect against eavesdropping. Many major sites use HTTPS by default now.
Make sure these kinds of features are enabled for better security.
Be Wary of Scams
Phishing schemes try to trick you into entering sensitive information by impersonating trustworthy entities. Stay alert for:
- Suspicious links in emails, messages, ads, or websites. Don‘t click without verifying the source first.
- Urgent requests for personal or financial information. Legitimate companies won‘t force this.
- Typos, strange formatting, or other signs of amateurism.
When in doubt, manually type the website address into your browser instead of clicking links.
Keep Software Up-to-Date
Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in outdated programs. That‘s why it‘s crucial to install software updates promptly, especially for things like your operating system, browser, PDF reader, Flash, Java, etc.
Turn on "automatic updates" whenever possible to stay current. Don‘t use old, unsupported software that‘s no longer receiving patches.
Use Strong Passwords
Reusing weak passwords across accounts is dangerous – if one site gets hacked, attackers can access your other accounts too.
- Use a unique, randomly-generated password for every account. Password managers like LastPass facilitate this.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) when available. 2FA requires providing a temporary code from your phone, for example, even if someone knows your password.
Maintain Awareness
Pay attention to the sites you visit and files you download. Avoid clicking unfamiliar links/attachments that could hide malware.
Don‘t access known malicious or scam sites. Be wary of enabling browser extensions; validate they‘re from a trustworthy source first.
Also watch for signs of infection like sluggish performance, crashing, popup ads, or your browser opening unusual pages on its own. These could indicate malware and the need to scan for threats.
Other Tips
Other good practices:
- Clear your browsing data, caches, cookies etc. periodically. This limits how much information gets stored.
- Check a site is using HTTPS before entering information. The padlock icon indicates encryption.
- Be thoughtful about what personal information you share publicly online. This data can facilitate identity theft.
- Use a mainstream antivirus program and firewall to catch malware.
- Back up your data in case you need to cleanly reinstall your operating system after an infection.
When to Get Help
If you suspect your computer has been infected:
- Run a scan with your antivirus software right away.
- Check what programs are running – unfamiliar processes could signal malware.
- Use the Task Manager/Activity Monitor to end suspicious tasks.
- Reboot into Safe Mode, which loads only essential drivers and services.
- If issues persist, you may need professional help to clean your system.
Staying secure online requires vigilance, but taking proactive steps goes a long way. Browse wisely by using trusted tools, avoiding suspicious links/files, and maintaining awareness of what sites you visit. With good practices, you can confidently use the web for all it has to offer.
