5 Foolproof Ways To Stay Protected Against Online Threats

As per the Microsoft Computer Safety Index study for 2013, around 23 billion USD was lost worldwide due to online security threats. The study also states that the cumulative time lost by consumers in order to repair this damage amounted to 179,750 years. With such staggering numbers, the importance of protection against online threats cannot be underestimated.

Safeguarding yourself against online threats is not rocket science. With some simple guidelines one can ensure that most security threats are averted and here we highlight some of the most elemental safety measures. Needless to say, installing an effective antivirus like Quick Heal Total Security with features like Browser Sandbox, Web Security and more, is immensely helpful. Here are 5 ways to maintain your online security.  

Take steps to maintain your online reputation

Maintaining a positive online reputation is not just crucial for businesses, but for individuals too. Broadcasting excessive information about your personal life can be detrimental and it can also lead this information into the wrong hands. There are no hard and fast rules for sharing data online, but you must realize that the content you share will have an impact on your personal life. The Microsoft study goes on to state that approximately 4.5 billion USD was lost worldwide due to damage to personal reputation. This can easily be avoided by curating what you share and using some online reputation management tools. 

Ensure that your devices are well defended

Gone are the days when antivirus software was only essential for desktops. Today, people use tablets and smartphones in conjunction, so each of these devices need to be adequately protected. If you carry out online banking through your smartphone, then you definitely need an efficient solution like Quick Heal Mobile Security. Moreover, there are several features on modern smartphones like security PINs, fingerprint scanners and facial recognition that are rarely used. Utilizing as many security layers as possible is highly recommended to keep personal data protected.  

Use a password that is extremely hard to crack

Perhaps everyone is aware about this, but very few actually follow this guideline. An individual who is active on the Internet today, uses around 10 different passwords on an average. So to make things simpler, people end up using very basic passwords and also tend to use the same passwords, or some variations, for all their accounts. This makes it very easy for hackers to crack their passwords. Using special characters, numbers and upper case alphabets can make a password near impossible to crack, so this is also something that should be adhered to. 

Moderate the content that you share on social networks

Social media networks encourage users to share pretty much everything about their lives. However, you must refrain from doing this as this data can be misused in several ways. While this is something that advertisers love, for normal users it can prove to be quite dangerous. This information can be collated to lead to identity theft or data loss. Worse still, it can also lead to physical duress by giving a stalker information about your physical whereabouts thanks to your check-ins and location tags. Ideally, do not reveal too much personal information on social networks and use all the privacy control features that are provided by these platforms. 

Take steps to protect your sensitive and personal information

Using public Wi-Fi may seem like a good idea at first. However, it is very easy for hackers to steal data over such networks as the security measures implemented on them exist at a very basic level. Use secure networks whenever possible. Moreover, ensure that your Wi-Fi network at home or work is secure. Refrain from visiting suspicious looking URLs, check for the HTTPS sign on pages where you carry out financial transactions and look out for fake phishing pages.

While these may seem like too many things to remember, adhering to them can ensure that your online safety is maintained. Online threats and privacy dangers do exist, but the underlying similarity between most cases is human error. Overlooking something as simple as logging out of your email account before leaving a machine can lead to severe repercussions and this is something that can certainly be avoided. With the right precautions, most online security threats can be successfully avoided. 

About the Author:  Rajib Singha is a web enthusiast and blogger, and has been writing about the computer security industry for the last two years. With a keen interest in the world of technology, he has written several articles and blog posts related to the industry.