The internet has fast become an essential part of everyday life that most people could not live without. Today, we have news, entertainment, shopping, finance, advice, communication, and much more right at our fingertips. But, while most of us use the internet all the time, it’s essential to understand that it also comes with many risks and threats that expose us to hackers, malware, and cybercrime. And as the internet grows even further in popularity, cyberattacks are becoming more and more common. If you want to protect yourself from cybercrime, be sure to avoid making these mistakes that could make you a more vulnerable target.
1 Oversharing Data
Social media often gets a lot of the stick for people sharing data excessively, but it’s not the only way that we give out our details online. While it’s undoubtedly one of the primary means that cybercriminals use to gain access to somebody’s personal information, many other methods can be used too. Online subscriptions and free online offers, for example, might seem tempting at the time. Still, if you are prompted to register your details to gain the exclusive benefits, you’re sharing your information. And, thanks to online migration of data, data such as addresses and public records are available online, making it easier for anybody to access more information than merely what you’ve shared on Facebook.
2 Not Checking Email Senders
If you received an email from your bank asking you to click a link that takes you to a login page, you might not think twice about logging in. But sadly, this is a common tactic known as phishing, which cybercriminals use to gain access to your login information and, subsequently, the account that you logged into. They do this by creating a duplicate of an email and login page to the trusted sender, leading you to believe that the message you received was from a company or person that you trust. If you get any emails asking you to share personal information, you should always double-check the sender. If you don’t recognize the email address, you can use Nuwber to get more information on who it belongs to.
3 Saving Passwords on the Browser
With our online activities increasing significantly over time, people are holding more personal online accounts than ever. Almost three in ten people aren’t sure how many online accounts they have. A standard solution to remembering all the login details for multiple accounts is to save them on the web browser. However, even though it is convenient, it can be risky. For example, if your device is attacked with malware, the hacker could quickly gain access to all your accounts through the saved passwords.
4 Unsafe Online Purchases
There’s no denying that online shopping has made life easier for most of us, but you should always exercise caution when buying something online. Cybercriminals can exploit vulnerabilities in retail websites and carry out credit card fraud, identity theft, and more. When shopping online, make sure that you only purchase items from secured sites; an SSL certificate usually indicates this. You might also want to consider using payment wallets such as PayPal to make the payment, which will help you avoid entering your credit card number directly into the site.
The internet has become an integral part of our lives, but it can put you at risk. Practice caution and avoid these mistakes to stay safe online.
