Top 10 Internet Security and Privacy Tips

In an era where our every move is tracked and monitored by government agencies and corporations, it’s more important than ever to take steps to protect your privacy online.

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it’s more important than ever to take steps to protect your online privacy and security. Here are 10 tips to help you do just that:

Use a password manager

Passwords are the key to internet security and privacy, but it can be difficult to remember them all. A password manager can help you keep track of your passwords and create strong ones.

A password manager is a software application that helps you create and manage strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts. By using a password manager, you can avoid the temptation of using weak or easily guessed passwords, and you’ll only need to remember a single master password to access all your other account passwords.

Use two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an additional layer of security that requires you to provide a second piece of evidence in addition to your password when logging in to an account. This second factor can be something that only you know (like a PIN code) or something that only you have (like a physical security key).

Be careful what you click on

Phishing is a type of online scam where criminals send emails or text messages that appear to be from a legitimate source in an attempt to trick you into revealing sensitive information or clicking on a malicious link. Be wary of any unexpected emails or messages, even if they appear to be from a trusted source. If you’re not sure whether an email is legitimate, don’t click on any links or open any attachments – instead, contact the company directly to verify.

Keep your software up to date

One of the best ways to protect your computer from viruses, malware, and other security threats is to keep your software up to date. This includes your operating system, web browser, plugins, and other software installed. Most software applications have automatic updates enabled by default, but it’s always a good idea to double-check and make sure that yours are turned on.

Use a VPN

A VPN (virtual private network) is a type of technology that allows you to create a secure, private connection to another network over the internet. Businesses often use VPNs to allow employees to access company resources from remote locations securely. However, they can also be used by individuals to protect their online privacy and security.

Encrypt your communications

Encryption is the process of transforming readable data into an unreadable format. This ensures that even if someone were to intercept your communications, they would not be able to read or make sense of them. There are a number of different ways to encrypt your communications, including using a VPN, SSL/TLS, or S/MIME.

Be cautious of public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks are convenient, but they also come with a number of security risks. When you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, all your internet traffic is sent through that network and can be intercepted by anyone else on the same network. To protect your privacy and security, only use public Wi-Fi networks that you trust and be sure to enable two-factor authentication on any accounts that you login to while connected.

limit the amount of personal information you share online

The less personal information you share online, the better. Be cautious of the information you share on social media and only provide personal information when absolutely necessary. When creating accounts for online services, use a pseudonym instead of your real name and consider using a disposable email address.

Use a privacy-conscious search engine

When you use a search engine, your search queries are stored by the company and can be used to build a profile of you. If you’re concerned about your privacy, consider using a privacy-conscious search engine like DuckDuckGo or StartPage.

Use a secure browser extension

Secure browser extensions can help you protect your privacy and security when browsing the web. These extensions can block trackers, encrypt your communications, and more. Some of our favourites include Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin, and HTTPS Everywhere.