Internet safety and security have become imperative for any type of organization. In this article, we will explain what internet safety is, its importance, and tips you should know.
What is internet safety?
Internet security is the branch of computer security that deals with identifying and preventing the risks and threats that affect the internet as a whole. It serves to establish standards and measures to prevent, minimize or eliminate security problems on the internet.
Why is internet security so important?
Internet security is important because a safe network doesn’t exist. All types of networks can be attacked. An efficient and stable network security system is very crucial to protect customer and company data.
A good system of security standards on the Internet will help prevent any type of cyber-attack, from those that can lead to loss, theft, or sabotage of data, through theft or damage to the company’s intellectual property, to those that threaten the stability of the network and the infrastructure itself, as well as its availability.
Read: How to shop online safely?
Types of Internet Security:
There are different types of Internet security depending on what is affected:
– Network security: To ensure that our information and data travel safely, it is necessary to ensure the safety of the network itself. All devices connected to a router are connected to the same (internal) network and through the router and the ISP (Internet Service Provider) connect to the internet. To prevent unauthorized persons from getting access to our internal network, it must be protected by a strong password.
– Browsing security: When we browse the internet, we are also exposed to security risks, since there are fraudulent pages from which malware can be downloaded on our computer or our accounts and credentials may get stolen.
– Reputation security: Related to our privacy on the internet, security on the internet and social networks is also an important aspect. Once we’ve posted something on the internet, it’s very difficult to make it disappear completely, so statements, photos, or videos that may have seemed funny and innocent at the time can affect our reputation in the future. Not to mention when third parties publish images or private information of ours to harm us in some way.
February 14, 2023 is considered by many to be a Safe Internet day. That gives us an idea of the magnitude of this issue, and how important it is to know how we can protect ourselves when we surf the internet. That is why today we are going to give you some tips on internet safety that we recommend you to follow to be protected on any network.
Main risks of unsecured Internet connection and browsing:
Cybercriminals can take down entire websites, steal sensitive information, or corrupt entire databases. For this reason, any internet security guide or mini guide should consider the following risks, together with the protocols and tools to prevent and minimize them.
Information theft: Confidential information theft is often accompanied by a ransom demand in exchange for not publishing it.
Identity theft: The crime of identity theft, beyond stealing accounts on social networks, can involve the completion of different frauds, causing us economic damage, and also reputational damage, since cybercriminals hide under our name.
Malware attacks: Through the download and installation of different types of malware, cybercriminals can access any type of network and the computers connected to it to carry out other malicious actions.
Harassment on networks: Digital media, especially social networks, are also used to carry out all kinds of cyberbullying and harassment, including even workplace bullying.
Stalking: Stalkers are following and harassing their victims on all networks and platforms where they have a presence and sending them hundreds of direct messages demanding their attention or threatening them.
Social Engineering: Social engineering techniques use deception and manipulation to exploit social interactions and gain access to networks and valuable data.
Read: How To Stop Google Virus Warning Android?
Internet safety tips:
As mentioned earlier, there is a Safe Internet Day. In 2004, the European Union proposed it within the SafeBorders project and it was adopted by the Insafe network. Since then, on the second Tuesday of each month, Safer Internet Day has been celebrated in more than 100 countries to promote and discuss the need for a safer internet, especially for children and adolescents.
Here are the steps you can take to ensure security.
Have strong and secure passwords:
The first of the tips on internet security that we give you is to have good passwords. Ideally, you should have a different password for each site you are registered on and make them as strong as possible. Using a combination of numbers, letters, and special characters will be a perfect option.
Two-Step Verification:
Activating two-step verification requires two passcodes to access your user accounts: you log in using an additional code sent to your mobile. It can be a bit more laborious than just logging in, but it is much safer since without that code nobody will be able to access your account.
Security certificates on web pages:
If you usually browse different pages on the internet, it is recommended that you double-check their security. How? Well, it is very simple: the URL must start with HTTPS and not with HTTP. Only the first one has a security protocol that ensures that the website is completely secure.
Beware of spam:
Have you ever detected an email in your inbox that looks suspicious? Either because of its poor wording or because of the recipient’s name, for example.
In these cases, it is best to delete it without opening to avoid possible viruses. The same goes for advertising which can appear as pop-ups windows. We recommend using Nuwber if you receive unsolicited emails. On this website, you can check the generic details of the sender.
Check the Wi-Fi of your mobile device:
If you are somewhere with open networks that do not transmit reliability, it is best to disable the Wi-Fi on your device. Otherwise, it will automatically connect to any of these networks and they will be able to access your data.
Software update:
Other tips on internet security are to update the software on your device regularly. This updates the virus databases and also the security system, so the device will be protected better.
Keep these important tips in mind and your personal information and data will not be leaked online.
You might also like to read
11 Email Services that don’t ask for phone verification
