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10 Basic Tips On How To Keep Your Computer Safe Online

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1. Keep Your Devices Up To Date

Turn on automatic updates, so your computer, mobile, and tablet are always up-to-date with the latest software. These software updates fix bugs and security issues that may be exploited.

2. Ensure Websites You Visit Have The Padlock Symbol

The padlock icon helps you know which websites are safe. An antivirus program running in the background will often show a green tick which indicates that the website is legit.

3. Set Strong Passwords

The more complex your password is the more difficult it is to guess. Use a combination of lower and upper case letters and add some symbols and numbers too.

Avoid passwords like – password, 000000, birthdate, dog/cat/child’s name, or 123456. No, we are not joking some people actually do this!

Do not store passwords on your device.

Here are some free to use password generators

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4. Secure Internet Connection

Always protect your home network (Wi-Fi) with a strong password. When connecting to a public network use a VPN. This includes smart phones.

5. Keep An Eye Out For Phishing Scams

Good anti-virus software will help you with this.

Phishing scams use fraudulent emails and websites to trick you into disclosing private accounts or login information. Always check that you are entering a legitimate website or banking platform before using them.

Do not click on links, pop-ups, or open attachments you do not trust. You can always run your email system through your antivirus system first before downloading anything.

6. Be Careful What You Disclose On Social Media

Scammers and hackers will use your social media information to guess your password and security questions. Create passwords and security questions that will be hard to guess.

7. Shop Safely

When purchasing anything online ensure the payment window is 100% secure and encrypted. The website address must start with https.

8. Read A Websites Privacy Policies

All good websites will have a privacy policy. They are pretty standard and you will usually have to allow some data sharing, but you should look for anything that jumps out at you as unusual.

9. Use A VPN And Keep Your Anti-Software Program Up To Date And Running At All Times

10. Encrypt Your Computer Files

You should keep the important files on your computer encrypted. You can also use an encrypted email system to keep your emails safe. This reduces the chance of a ransomware issue.

View our cybersecurity resources section for more information.

Stay safe and purchase a VPN and anti-software program.