As cool and useful as the internet is, we’ve all heard stories about how dangerous it can be. The tricky thing about this is that you don’t have to do something obviously careless to feel the consequences. If anything, small mistakes we don’t pay attention to tend to turn into bigger problems down the line.
Here are the most common mistakes and how to either avoid or correct them. You’ve likely made one or two – we all have. Learn more about them and make your browsing safer.
Reusing Passwords
Every website and online service wants you to make an account so you can use it, which also means you have to secure it with a password. Our brains aren’t built to remember dozens of these, let alone a hundred or more, that some people need for normal daily internet use!
So what do we do? We use one password or slight variations for more than one account. That’s easier to remember, but much riskier! If you use strong passwords, it can take hackers millions of years to figure them out. If the passwords are also unique, stealing them outright will affect only one account. Password managers automate password creation, storage, and secure sharing, so start using one!
Using Unsafe Wi-Fi
Being able to check in on your emails or share a pic from anywhere is great, but there’s a catch. The free Wi-Fi you’ve come to expect from airports, coffee shops, etc., might not be safe. It doesn’t have as many protections as mobile data or your home internet. This lets hackers connect and see what you’re up to. They may even see which websites you want to visit and send you to fake ones that steal the info you put in instead.
The good news is that you can keep using public Wi-Fi if you take the right precautions. If you run the correct type of VPN each time you connect, it will create a secure tunnel that protects your connection. Meanwhile, snoops and internet bad guys won’t be able to tell what websites you’re visiting or how you’re interacting with others online.
Ignoring Browser Warnings
Have you ever wanted to go to a website only for your browser to warn you it’s not safe? These warnings aren’t overblown. Very old and new suspicious sites use an unsafe way of sending and receiving information called HTTP. This information travels through multiple stops to get to the website and back. It becomes easy to steal it, change messages you send, or direct you to harmful websites without noticing.
It’s best to listen to your browser’s advice and always look for the little padlock next to a website’s name. That means the site is using the newer HTTPS method, and you can share information with it safely.
Trusting Suspicious Links
The internet is full of scammers. Some will send you emails pretending there’s been a delay with a package you supposedly ordered. Others may promise great money-making opportunities or prizes. Either way, they’ll all give you a link to click on, which can cause all sorts of trouble.
Most often, they lead to a fake version of a real website. If you have an account with the original and enter its username and password there, they can steal them and lock you out! Such links might also infect your device with a nasty virus. A straightforward piece of advice is to avoid clicking links in unexpected messages and instead visit websites by typing the address directly into your browser.
Oversharing on Social Media
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok encourage us to put our lives on display. While bragging about your wild weekend or latest purchase is fun, oversharing has its dangers. For example, a single picture of your dog in the yard could help someone figure out your exact address. Couple that with real-time vacation updates we’re so fond of posting, and someone pretending to be your online friend will know exactly which house to rob and when.
Make all your social media accounts private and only connect with people you know you can trust. Even then, think twice about what you post.
Oversharing exposes content about you – your beliefs, interests, insecurities, and other personal details someone might want to take advantage of. How you connect to your socials also deepens that profile. Doing so through a VPN is a good idea even if you’re not on public Wi-Fi. The best VPN will hide your location and support your privacy. This will lead to fewer targeted ads and get rid of tracking based on your location or network.
