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March 05, 2020

How A Non-Technical Person Can Protect Themselves Online



Hackers. We hate to admit it, but they are out there. It can be stressful and exhausting to try and make sure that you have all your online data protected, especially if you are a non-technical person. In this article, we are going to talk about some of the best ways to protect yourself online, so you can rest easy when you next browse the web. Looking to advance your skills and become a cybersecurity professional? Click the link to read more.



1. Change your passwords.

It’s never a good idea to have the same password for all of your accounts. If a hacker has retrieved your password, this means they can not only get into one account, but they can get into all the others. (I’ve personally learned from this mistake). Make sure you try and create different passwords for your account, to prevent this from happening. Try using a password manager to create hard to break passwords. Using capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers, all decrease the risk of getting hacked.

2. Two-factor authentication.

Have a look at all of your social media accounts and see what ones offer two-factor authentication. A two-factor authentication method means that there will be two barriers to get through when trying to access your account. This can be a code that is sent to your mobile number or a password assigned to another email address. This makes it harder for a hacker to get in, as they might only have access to your password.

3. Keep a lookout for scams.

When browsing around online, try to make yourself aware of what potential scams look like, so that you don’t accidentally give your data away. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is! So make sure you stay away and don’t click on any fishy links.

4. Install security software.

Everybody should make sure that they have security software installed on their laptop. This alerts you to any viruses and malware that may begin to infect your computer. Make sure it is reputable, and when installed, try and make sure it updates automatically so you can always ensure you are protected. Also, ensure that it works for both mac and windows computers.

5. Be smart about online payments.

Shopping online is huge nowadays, but it’s important to remember to keep an eye out when entering your payment details into unreputable sites. If you think something doesn’t seem quite right, it’s best to stay away! Another great idea is to use something like PayPal (News - Alert), which offers you another layer of protection.



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