The ultimate guide to stay safe online. Everything to know

On a holiday night, you start watching a movie after searching for it online on an anonymous website. After watching your movie, you may see some weird advertisements show on your mobile, PC, or whatever device you are using. Another common issue is that you download some software and then try to uninstall it, but it remains on your PC. With growing online businesses, you may no longer be safe online. According to US Census Bureau data, over 5,481,437 new businesses were established in 2023. With these developing trends, you can no longer just browse the internet without concern for your safety. Now in 2024 Staying safe online requires a combination of good actions awareness, and the right resources.
Before taking the necessary precautions for online safety, we need understand how your online security might be compromised. Automated attacks, as with the development of AI, might pose a threat to your online data. AI can create malware that avoids detection by typical antivirus software by learning from and adapting to protection measures.

how do data breaches happen

Data breaches occurs when unauthorized people gain access to sensitive information. Many people believe that data breaches only happen to large firms or industries. However, stealing someone’s internet information isn’t limited to businesses. We will share some of the most frequent data breach tactics that can compromise your data, followed by possible fixes.

Weak Passwords and Poor Authentication: This could be a starting point towards your data breach. We all use passwords for many platforms. It is a common issue to use the same, weak passwords across different platforms. Attackers typically employ automated tools to test username and password combinations obtained from a single breach on several websites. A compromise at one site will allow attackers access to all of your accounts. So, using strong and unique password combinations can be the first step toward enhancing your online security.

Unsafe browser: Outdated browsers may have known security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers to gain access to your system or data. While using a browser your information can be compromised by malicious links that may come up from unknown sources. So it is recommended to use well-known browsers with updated adblockers. Malicious extensions that can inject malware or adware into your browsing sessions can also track your personal information.

Physical Theft or Loss: Laptops, smartphones, and other devices containing sensitive information are lost or stolen. You might save all passwords in a file, and someone may obtain it. So, any critical information that is not online should be password protected.

Tip: While giving your gadget or personal mobile to someone must clean or erase all your data with some well-known data eraser.

Outdated Software: Cybercriminals frequently use known vulnerabilities in outdated software to gain unauthorized access to systems and data. Software upgrades often include defenses against newly found vulnerabilities, which an outdated system may lack. So always use the most recent software from the official website.

Social Media and Public Information: Many social media platforms and apps track your location, which could reveal your whereabouts to anyone with access, so it is highly recommended that you do not publicly access your information to everyone. It is also possible that someone will create a fake profile of you using your personal information, which can then be used for a variety of illegal purposes.

Network and Wi-Fi Attacks: A router or WIFI network is the first entry point to the internet. Once you connect online you can be tracked. Hackers intercept data between your device and the network you’re connected to and well-trained hackers can track each and everything about you online. The software, extensions, cookies whatever you use can be accessible.

Malware and Ransomware: You may heard of ransomware or malware many times but believe me they can do anything. Well-designed malware can infiltrate and damage computers or networks of well-secured networks. The WannaCry ransomware attack, which occurred in May 2017, was one of the most significant cyberattacks in history, impacting hundreds of thousands of computers in over 150 countries.

15 best tips to stay safe online

While keeping the above most common threats in mind we make some possible tips and solutions that you should adopt while browsing the internet. These steps can be really helpful to keep you safe online.

1. Secure Internet Connection

Having a secure internet connection is crucial for maintaining online safety. Your chosen internet service provider (ISP) can act as your first line of defense. Ensure that your router has properly configured Network Address Translation (NAT) and Wireless Protected Access (WPA/WPA2/WPA3). Adding a firewall can be an extra layer of security that can block malicious websites. This is a little crazy to say, but adding a healthy, strong password to your router helps prevent hackers from accessing your network.

2. Use Safe browsers

Safe browsers can indeed enhance your online security, but it should be part of a broader strategy. There are dozens of browsers that focus on privacy and security available on the market. While installing any of them, they should be evaluated on the basis of how they stop third-party tools, how they store your passwords, how they react to malicious websites, how they block ads, and so on. This may sound a little scary, but believe us, using a safe browser can save you from many targeted attacks. So we recommend you use a browser specifically designed for safety. 

3. Always visit safe websites

This is a little difficult to achieve as there are millions of online websites available, and you never know if it’s safe to access that or not. But don’t worry, here is the trick: safe websites are typically indicated by “https://” in the URL, so only visit websites with HTTPS as it indicates a secure connection, but it should not be the sole criterion for determining the safety online. You can enter the website URL into Google’s Safe Browsing tool to check for any reported unsafe content. We know that is a little difficult, as you cannot check every website before accessing it. So we recommend using some safe browser that warns you if a site is unsafe or has a bad reputation.

Tip: Always stay alert for popups generated on a website that appear out of nowhere, especially if you were not expecting them.

4. Use well renowned VPN

Using a reputable VPN (virtual private network) may significantly enhance your online security and privacy. A VPN encrypts your internet connection, ensuring that all data sent between your device and the VPN server is secure. Reputable VPN companies have strict no-log policies, which means they do not keep track of your internet history. However, while selecting a VPN, there should be other factors to consider, including speed performance, encryption technique, and, most importantly, how it values your privacy. However, using a reliable VPN provider will undoubtedly help you maintain anonymity and privacy when accessing the internet.

Must read: Crucial safety questions for Kids

5. Use Adblockers for safe browsing

Ad blockers prevent intrusive advertisements from appearing on websites, reducing the danger of encountering deceptive ads, or malvertising. They can prevent web trackers from collecting a variety of information about you, from personal information to browsing history. Ad blockers not only improve security and performance, but they also make browsing enjoyable and less cluttered. There are several types of ad blockers available on the market. Choose what works best for you, as some block only popups, some are fantastic at blocking video advertisements, and others block all types of ads but may require a premium subscription.

6. Install best Antivirus

Antivirus software’s primary role is to detect and remove malicious software (malware), which includes viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, adware, and other harmful programs. Real-time protection is an advanced feature of contemporary antivirus software that enables continuous monitoring and fast response to potential threats. The antivirus program keeps a database of known popular signatures. When the software scans a file, it compares the code to the signature database. if it matches with the signature it blocks that. So, always use antivirus software with a large and reliable popular signature database. You can select well-known antivirus programs on the market.

7. Use Two-Factor Authentication

2FA combines two sorts of login information: something you know (a password) and something you own (a mobile device). This certainly provides an extra degree of protection, because if someone obtains your password, he may need your cell phone to authenticate or gain access to some new system. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an advanced security feature that significantly enhances the safety of your online accounts. Two factors are not restricted to receiving an OTP or email verification on your mobile. You can add your fingerprint, retina scan, or other security measures to protect your sensitive information. You may need to install additional extensions, software, or apps for that, but these actions will provide you with more effective safety.

8. Keep yourself updated

In an ever-changing digital environment, cyber threats constantly change and becoming more sophisticated, making it important for individuals and companies to stay educated and proactive in their security measures. Regularly upgrading software, operating systems, and applications is one of the most effective strategies to protect yourself against vulnerabilities in security. Cybercriminals commonly exploit recognized vulnerabilities in outdated software. As a result, if possible, allow automatic upgrades for your operating systems, apps, and security software. Furthermore, subscribing to trustworthy cybersecurity news outlets, blogs, and alerts will keep you up to date on the latest threats and vulnerabilities.

9. Always use safe extensions

While Chrome extensions and other browser plugins make web browsing easier, they can also be used to track a user’s browsing history and steal private data. This goes beyond simply stealing data. If an extension is not properly designed or maintained, it may introduce security vulnerabilities. Always get your extensions from trusted sources, such as the official browser extension stores. It is also recommended that you avoid using unnecessary addons that you may not utilize over years. To evaluate an extension’s safety, look for a developer profile, user reviews, and the update process.

10. Keep your personal information inaccessible

In an age where digital data is a precious commodity, keeping your personal information private is essential for preventing identity theft and unauthorized access. Personal information, such as Social Security numbers, credit card information, and addresses, are common targets for identity theft. If unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive information maintained online, such as login information or personal conversations, it might be used for malicious purposes. So, if you share or save personal information online, be sure it is password protected. If you simply save your personal information in your system, it is still accessible to anyone. To protect your devices, use strong passwords or biometric verification (such as fingerprint or facial recognition).

11. Keep help from Password managers

When typing the password, we may use “123456” or someone’s / your own “DOB.” The problem is that many of us have issues remembering passwords. Using simple and easy-to-guess passwords makes you vulnerable online. So, what should you do? Choose a strong 15-character password for email, a more more difficult password for social media, and so on. This is a really difficult way to memorize them all. So, what if you record all passwords in a file and save it somewhere? Do not make that mistake. If someone gets the file, he may gain access to each and every account. Password managers are advanced programs that improve internet security by securely managing and arranging your passwords. They store all of your passwords and other sensitive information in an encrypted vault, including credit card information and private notes. It is recommended to use several well-known password managers for your online activities.

12. Manage permissions or cookies

As you browse the internet, websites and applications frequently seek various permissions and use cookies to improve performance and user experience. However, if not handled correctly, these factors may compromise your privacy and security. Most updated browsers and mobile operating systems include settings for managing these permissions. If not, you can use specialized software and tools to manage and control the cookies on your device.

13. Always take a backup

What happens if you log into your system and find that your file is corrupted and inaccessible? This might happen to many of us. We can, however, recover our data via backups. Backups should be taken on a regular basis to protect your data and ensure your safety online. Data loss can happen for a variety of reasons, including hardware failure, unintentionally deletion, software corruption, or physical damage to devices. We urge that you should not simply save your backup anywhere. Encrypt your backups so that even if they are compromised, the data is inaccessible without valid authorization.

14. You can use proxy servers

A proxy server operates as a link between your device and the internet, transmitting your traffic through its own servers. Getting someone’s IP address can be the entry point to your system. If you remain anonymous online, you have a good chance of staying secure and not leaving a digital footprint. So here comes the proxy server, whose main advantage is IP address masking. When you use a proxy, your requests and responses from websites are routed through the proxy server before they reach you. However, this does not mean you can use any proxy you like. When using a proxy server, particularly a free or public one, you must trust the proxy provider with your information. So it’s critical to find trusted proxy providers and review their safety standards

15. Educate yourself

Educating yourself on online safety is a critical step toward protecting your personal information and providing a safe digital experience. If you know nothing, you cannot achieve anything. It is critical to recognize the different sorts of cyber risks that exist. We’re not saying you should be a tech obsessed, but you should have some basic cyber knowledge. The digital landscape is continually evolving, with new risks emerging on every single day. Keeping up with the newest cybersecurity advances allows you to identify and respond to new challenges.