Protecting Your Data when Searching Online

Your data needs to be as safe as possible.  If you can’t make the right choices, you’ll quickly find your computer full of viruses and your personal information spread all over the internet.

Instead of allowing that to happen: consider following some of these tips to keep yourself safe.

 

Beware What Links You Click

This is one of the oldest rules for being safe online: but it’s vital that you do everything you can to avoid clicking any links you don’t recognize.  Clicking bad links can lead to people gaining information on you, accidentally downloading a virus or damaging software, or other issues that can leave you vulnerable.

Click links only from trusted sources, and be scrutinous of anything that seems misleading.

Don’t Share Information You Don’t Need To

You may feel safe in your niche on the internet, but it’s vital that you don’t share more information than you need to.  This means avoiding common posting things like if you’re going on vacation: but it also means being cautious of what identifying information you have online.

Be aware of how much of your information is on the internet and what you can do to remove it or limit the access other people have to this information.

Browsing in Incognito or Private Mode

Although this won’t help you if someone wants to try an IP address lookup on you: browsing incognito will save you from having your cookies or information stored on different websites!  In the long-term, you might get frustrated because you have to log in to different sites to use them, so this is generally only best for doing things like online shopping, researching subjects, or looking into jobs you want to apply for.  This will protect you from targeted ads but won’t hide your information from an employer or anyone who may have access to your computer’s information.

Using a VPN Service

Using a VPN is the next step up and an awesome way to ensure that your computer is as safe as possible.  Virtual private networks mask where you are and give you an IP address for a different city or area, giving you the chance to be as safe as possible without having to fear people knowing who or where you are.  This also allows you to access movies and videos that are location-locked, ensuring you get the most out of your streaming services.

Updating Your Privacy Settings Often

Privacy settings get updated often by browsers and phones, so it’s vital that at least once a week, you check in and ensure everything looks good.  You should also consider changing your passwords at least once every other month to ensure your information is constantly updating and changing, making your account harder to access.

You Deserve to Be Safe When Online!

The internet is a vast and wild place, but that doesn’t mean you should be open to attacks at any time.  Consider following some of these tips so that your online behavior can be safer and your information will stay as secure as possible.