6 ways to protect your privacy on the internet
As regulations related to data protection on the Web continue to evolve, reviewing the correct behaviors to take to ensure safe browsing can be very helpful.
We help by reporting six best practices to always keep in mind.
Table of Contents:
If you don’t know what it is, delete it!
Cookies
Secure Connection, Firewall and Antivirus
Up-to-date and difficult passwords
Update your operating system
Pay attention to unsafe websites
If you don’t know what it is, eliminate it!
Threats are constantly and continuously changing. Over the years, cyber criminals have increasingly refined phishing and scam attacks, through which confidential information can be obtained. It seems, therefore, essential to recognize the danger: do not open emails that seem unusual or sent by users you do not know or with unusual objects.
The same thing applies to attachments and links placed within emails of dubious origin. Fight against curiosity and delete everything.
Criminals, in particular, want to deceive potential victims by sending only seemingly real communications to induce them to divulge sensitive information, credentials (passwords) and financial data.
Cookies
Blocking cookies means making it harder for websites to determine your last visit and store your preferences. Blocking them is not always convenient, but from a privacy perspective it is a plus.
Secure Connection, Firewall and Antivirus
Always use a secure wireless connection, avoiding public Wi-Fi, and firewalls-they protect your pc from unwanted traffic. It is also important to keep your computer’s antivirus updated.
Up-to-date and difficult passwords
Perhaps out of listlessness or fear of forgetting them, many users choose simple passwords. In 2022, the most widely used password globally is password; as for Italy, the most widely used password is 123456. This alone gives an idea of how superficially the choice of login credential is conducted.
Using passwords with a minimum of 8 characters is a good idea, preferably composed of letters, numbers and special characters. Changing passwords 3, 4 times a year can also be an effective strategy to protect information.
Update the operating system
Operating system updates include new features, but not only that. They are also essential in terms of security because they include bug fixes that could be exploited by malicious attackers. That is why it is important to check for any new updates and run them if available.
Pay attention to insecure websites
Browsing websites without an SSL certificate can be dangerous. Not surprisingly, even Google flags the absence of the HTTPS protocol with the words “not secure” in the address bar.
The application of the SSL certificate allows not only the securing of communications between client and server, but also the optimization of search engine rankings. The latter, in fact, tend to prefer websites that include the padlock icon.