Nowadays, it might seem like the digital world is inundated with nefarious cybercriminals determined to steal your sensitive data at the first possible opportunity.
Although this is not necessarily the case, practicing good cyber hygiene is probably for the best, as it can allow you to traverse the cyber highway in peace, free from fear of having your details unceremoniously snatched.
Thankfully, putting a few measures in place is fairly straightforward, so why not let your mind rest, stay safe in the online realm, and utilize some great tech?
A VPN
A VPN (a virtual private network) comes with many benefits, not least of all the extra browsing security it brings!
By installing a VPN, you can essentially disguise your browsing activity online, covering your tracks and preventing hackers and trackers from learning your location.
You can also use it to bypass region-locked content on streaming sites, opening up a whole new world of watching for you.
Encrypting your internet traffic is a superb way of ensuring that your data is as safe as it can be online, making it a must for anyone working with high-value digital assets from home or a public WI-FI network. To find out more about how it works, we recommend reading this VPN guide.
Anti-Spam Software
Learning how to recognize a spam email is an important trait to possess in modern life, especially since some of the more sinister varieties of it can lead to a phishing scam.
Anti-spam software is another line of defense against potentially damaging emails while simultaneously preventing your inbox from being flooded with useless information.
Unfortunately, feeling submerged in spam is an all-too-common occurrence, so implementing a net to filter out the riff-raff might be the best way to move forward if this is the case.
Some of the best options are based in the cloud, allowing you to free up some space on your hard drive and hopefully get some help from the experts via human integration.
There are many different versions of anti-spam software, some of them are aimed at larger organizations as opposed to the individual user, so it might be worth doing your research before committing.
Ad Blocking Extensions
Sometimes, pesky popup advertisements and banners are far more than simple annoyances. They can be incredibly harmful, not just to the mind and possibly society in general, so you may want to try and block them out altogether.
It can be immensely disconcerting to find your interests at the epicenter of a targeted marketing campaign, another factor that ad-blocking browser extensions are ideal for combatting.
Some of the most popular options, like uBlock Origin and AdBlock Plus, are completely free and work on various browsers.
However, it is worth noting that the extension can have negative effects on certain websites, slowing own pages or even leading to denied access entirely. However, you can always just turn the extension off on any given page, so it’s not too much of an issue.
Malware Protection
Suffering a network breach at the hands of some insidious malware can be an alarming situation to find yourself in, particularly if your computer is hijacked by some nasty ransomware that claims to be the FBI.
To avoid having to demolish your computer in a fit of rage and/or panic, taking a preemptive approach to malware defense is crucial.
Some great browser extensions help you with this, such as Microsoft Defender Browser Protection and Malwarebytes Browser Guard. This is a wonderful way of detecting imposter websites.
Imposter websites, ‘spoof’ websites, or dodgy links exist and should be avoided at all costs if you want to stay safe online. Malware protection can keep a virtual eye out for you, but it is definitely still worth brushing up on your imposter identification skills.
A Firewall and Antivirus Software
If you do not already have a firewall installed and some reliable antivirus software, you might be unnecessarily leaving yourself open to a cyber-attack.
This might not be as applicable for Mac users, but it is still worth making sure that your network is secured is a vital, particularly for those working from home on their personal devices.
Ultimately, the best way to keep safe online is to remain vigilant, know what to watch out for, and make sure that you have some handy software in place to look after your network should any breaches occur.
