The internet now connects each of us on levels that were in the realm of old science fiction stories that came out before the age of the modern computer. According to a report by Statistica, India is the second largest online market in the world (behind China) with over 560 million internet users in 2021, a number that is expected to grow to 650 million by 2023. Internet accessibility has also seen a jump over the last few years, with the internet penetration rate at around 50% in 2020, adds the report. And the more users engage on the web through the sea of online platforms and social media, the risks to their privacy and safety have also increased.
Speaking of the dangers the internet is teeming with, global cyberattacks saw a 32% increase in Q2 2022 compared to Q2 2021, as per a report by cybersecurity solutions provider Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. According to the report, the most common dangers to an individual online are malware and phishing-based attacks. Hence, here are five tips to stay safe online, as per Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Make sure that the website you are visiting is a secure one
There are a lot of websites out there that are either poorly configured, putting the shared information at risk, or are malicious in nature. Keeping this in mind, you should always check if the website you are visiting is a secure one. To check for this, see if the website follows the https security protocol. If the URL includes an “-s” at the end, this means that it is a secure website and is adapted to protection standards. You can also check for a green padlock at the beginning of the link, which represents a secure connection.
Keep updating your device software and applications
Ignoring updates to software and applications gives hackers the chance to exploit any vulnerability the older version might have and thus compromise your system. So, keep installing updates as soon as they come out.
Do not use the same username and password for different online services
You should use different usernames and passwords for your various online accounts. It goes without saying that these should be complex enough to be deemed unguessable.
Download applications only from official online shops
Not downloading or updating the apps through the official online stores like the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, etc, can be dangerous for your online safety. Many times, hackers send trojans via an update they put on third party websites. You should also read the different conditions of use, as some of them can be abusive, and in many cases you can lose control over your data and information, said the cybersecurity firm.
Protect your devices with security software
You should invest in paid versions of antivirus, anti-malware and other security software from reputed firms to keep your devices secure and to prevent the theft of any sensitive data.
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