Below are some tips to ensure your personal information does not fall into the hands of wrongdoers.
Create strong passwords
When creating passwords, think beyond easily guessable words or numbers that cybercriminals might easily figure out, such as your date of birth. Choose a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols and change them regularly. You should also use a unique password instead of using the same one across multiple websites. If you are worried about remembering too many passwords, a password manager tool can help you keep track.
Avoid oversharing on social media
We all have a friend who post too many details about his life online. This not only causes annoyance but can also put your personal information at risk. Check your privacy settings to know who is viewing your posts and be cautious when sharing your location, hometown, date of birth, or other personal information.
Be cautious with free Wi-Fi
Most public Wi-Fi networks are not well-secured, which means others using the same network can easily access your activities.
Beware of links and attachments
Cybercriminals operate stealthily and often design their deceptive schemes to make them look like legitimate communications from banks, utility companies, or other businesses. Pay attention to errors such as spelling mistakes, unusual numbers or characters, wrong brand names, different email addresses from the usual senders, as these could be indicators of a trap.
Check if a website is secure
Before entering personal information on a website, check your browser’s address bar. If there is a padlock icon and the URL begins with “https,” it means the website is secure. There are other ways to determine if a website is trustworthy, such as checking their privacy policy, contact information, or “verified security” seal.
Consider additional protection
Installing antivirus software, anti-spyware software, and a firewall may not be foolproof methods, but they are essential for self-defense against low-level threats in the “flat world” era
