Most guides on staying safe in the digital world revolve around making a strong password. It’s like making a password that’s hard to guess that will keep you safe from any cybersecurity threat and let you rest easily, never looking back on the other threats.
The truth is that hackers, malware, and other malicious online elements have a peculiar way of going around these protection methods. No, your firewall and 2FA may not be enough to protect you. With that in mind, here are the ten additional things you can do to stay safe in the digital world.
1. Install antivirus (on all your devices)
While you probably have an antivirus (at least a free one) on your computer, do you also have one on your smartphone? Probably not, but why not? After all, you’re probably more on your phone than you are on your computer.
The thing is that malware, spyware, and ransomware can also infect your smartphone. Now, just imagine the nightmare of having your phone’s contents stolen or restricted access to your phone. Your banking app, social media, and gallery are on your phone, with content for your eyes only.
On the other hand, it just takes you a few seconds to find a decent antivirus and install it on this device.
2. Work only on the platforms you trust
Knowing which platforms to use, especially when investing, buying, or making transactions online, is the key to staying safe. This is especially the case in fields like cryptocurrency, where you’re already facing a lot of uncertainty. Fortunately, there are a lot of trusted platforms like those to buy Bitcoin recommended here, available in regions worldwide, so you can make a purchase without worrying too much about the platform’s trustworthiness.
Naturally, you want to research beforehand and potentially start with a smaller transaction. Then, you see how it all works and gain confidence to make a bigger commitment in the future. Just remember that it’s not just this one platform. A lot of people use the same password for all of their platforms. It’s a bad practice, but people still do it.
3. Use cold storage for your digital assets
Sometimes, the easiest thing to do is just to unplug. If you keep your cryptocurrencies in a cold storage wallet, you can keep them offline and completely safe whenever you want. This is an extra protective measure that might save you. Anything that’s offline is, by default, safe from online threats.
Also, errors for online wallets have far more catastrophic outcomes. Human error for offline wallets is not that big of a deal. You can’t share private keys publicly, and you cannot become a subject of phishing. The elimination of these two hazards alone is a big deal.
4. Start using VPN
With a VPN, you can conceal your physical location, get more encryption, and overcome geo-restriction. There are a lot of free VPNs out there, but if you’re serious about this or using it for business, why not pay a bit for the service?
Keep in mind that the usefulness of VPN goes far beyond just cybersecurity. Some YouTube content is restricted to people from specific countries. The same is true for adult content on some sites. Then, there’s the issue of streaming services with a different offer depending on your country of origin.
5. Avoid public Wi-Fi
Don’t get us wrong, it’s impossible to avoid using public Wi-Fi completely, but you can be more careful at the very least. Use a VPN, avoid accessing any financial services, and try to recognize fake hotspots.
Remember that if a hotspot doesn’t require a password, it’s probably unsafe by default. So, in coffee places, just ask the staff for a password. Also, try to confirm that this is their network to avoid falling victim to a fake hotspot.
Also, keep in mind to use only platforms that use encryption.
6. Don’t use other people’s devices
When you use other people’s devices, you’re putting yourself at risk. How? Have you ever heard of software called keyloggers? These tools track all the keys you use, regardless if they’re visible on the screen. Then, they present it to the person behind the device.
So, no, you don’t give anyone your phone, and you don’t log into anything via someone else’s phone. It only takes a second for someone to install a keylogger onto your device and compromise your online security.
Also, remember that buying a new phone or trading in your old one is not the same as buying a used phone from someone. Just be careful and, at the very least, reset the phone before using it.
7. Watch out for phishing
Phishing is a cybersecurity threat where you get a fake link leading to a lookalike site. Now, on paper, phishing shouldn’t be too hard to recognize. What’s hard is staying alert 24/7. If you read the link, you’ll notice that it’s Fabecook and not Facebook, but will you really stop to examine the word?
The more you know about phishing, the more impervious you become.
It’s also worth mentioning that you don’t have to click on any link. Sure, you have an email from your Instagram. Why not go there via Google or an app? That extra second you think you’re saving by following the link might cost you dearly.
8. Update all your software
Every platform can be penetrated. Usually, developers find these gaps (the users report them) and fix them in the next update. However, what happens if you don’t update your software? It’s easy – the gaps remain open for intruders.
You can manually check the software version and then commence with the update, but most of the time, this will happen automatically. Still, sometimes, this is turned off so that it doesn’t use up your data. Just make sure you launch the update as soon as you get home.
9. Be careful what you put on social media
Previously, we’ve talked about the risks of making too predictable passwords; however, sometimes, you’ll be the one leaving a crumb trail for people trying to figure them out. Be careful when putting your anniversary, favorite food, and your pet’s name online if you’ll use them for your password later.
Just remember that it’s not just people you have as friends. They may have their accounts stolen or passwords shared with people you know nothing about. The only pieces of information that are ever safe are those you don’t share.
10. Online threats can transfer to real-world
Another thing you should be aware of is that online threats can transfer to the real world. People start beef constantly, but some are violent, malicious, and unpredictable. They may SWAT you, call your work to get you fired, or even meet you in the real world and assault you.
It doesn’t take too much research to research this type of crime. Just start digging around a bit, and you’ll encounter titles like – Gamer murdered following a Counter-Strike argument, etc. It’s really disturbing and horrifying. While it may be rare (compared to the number of people online and online arguments), it does happen. Do what you can so it doesn’t happen to you.
Your cybersecurity is your own personal responsibility
You’re doing so much business online and uploading so much personal info that you can’t afford to be reckless. With so much on stake, you need to be serious, not wait for the platform to force your hand, and be more careful. You shouldn’t wait for the site to prevent you from registering if your password has less than eight characters, and you can’t turn off your antivirus for an hour every time it won’t let you download a file. Take these things more seriously.
