With the theme ‘Be the change: unite for a better internet’ today, on 7th February, Safer Internet Day is being celebrated all across the world. The motto of this observance is to encourage people to surf safe online and safely use digital technology.
Being safe and secure while working online is a much needed practice that every individual should take care of. It is considered to be a solitary activity but we forget that we are surrounded by a community of endless users. Both our professional and personal lives are connected with this world wide web which makes life easier and seamless, but at the same time is a potential threat for us. To ensure you can do your work carefree, the following steps should be taken by every individual, beginning this Safer Internet Day –
1. Personal Data Security – Never give out personal information to websites that don’t have identity securing policies. Unless the website is spam free and officially credited for taking data of individuals, fake websites can share your data with spammers or advertisers which can even lead to extreme data breach. Such cases may lead to loss of personal and professional data, leaving you prone to thousands of threats.
2. Keep your location private – Many websites ask you to turn on your location services which will supposedly improve the device performance or service. Unless it’s google maps (which you know will only use your location to help you around your city), never share your location as internet predators are all around and can pretend to know you and increase chances of data loss.
3. Keep your internet security updated – Don’t use passwords that are easy to remember for you. They are probably easier for people around you to guess. Make them a little bit challenging and update them every once in awhile to keep all your accounts extra secure.
4. Download with precaution – We tend to download music, movies, games and a lot more of multimedia everyday. To make sure that you block the entry of potential threats along with your files, use antivirus scanners and plugins on your browser. Also, never download files from websites that are not trusted or verified.
5. Prefer personal Hot spots over public connections – Nothing is better than free internet connectivity, but it could also be a trap. Wherever you go, try to take your own hotspot with you or prefer mobile data. It may loosen your pocket a bit but will save you from a lot of threats and increase your personal security.
Happy surfing!
