Safe on The Internet: 10 Valuable Tips | Antivirus Solution

The Internet can be scary to the inexperienced user - and to a certain extent, it is. According to the IT security analysts at AV-TEST, four new applications are created every second that are considered malicious software.

Terrifying numbers, aren't they? Fortunately, however, you don't need to be a computer expert to browse the internet safely. With a little preparation and the right tools, even tech-shy users can safely enjoy the benefits of the Internet.

At the start of Cyber ​​Security Month, we rounded up the 10 best tips to help you stay safe while surfing the Internet.

1. Create Strong Passwords

Fact: In the past year, 4 percent of all users used "123456" as a password. This makes it the most common - i.e. worst - password in 2016.

Strong passwords are the simplest and most effective measure to defend against brute force attacks (criminals use automated tools to systematically test all possible combinations of username and password at account access points). The more secure the password, the harder it is for the attacker to infect your system with malware or steal sensitive data such as credit card information.

The majority of us most likely have tons of accounts and passwords. It is tempting to use easily memorable passwords for the sake of simplicity. Don't give in to this temptation. Better to use a password manager. Well-known products are, for example, LastPass, Dashlane, and Sticky Password. With these intuitive programs, you can save all your passwords securely without having to memorize lengthy strings.

Insider info: If your budget is not big, try the free KeePass. The experts are big fans of the open-source password manager, which is updated regularly.

Here are some tips on how to create a strong password:

·         Long: Your password should be at least twelve characters long.
·         Complex: Use a combination of numbers, special characters, and upper and lower case letters.
·         Random: do not use words found in the dictionary.
·        Unique: never use the same password for different accesses.
 Further reading: You can find our complete guide to the secure creation and management of passwords here.

2. Keep Software up To Date

Fact: 50 percent of users install security updates for software after 45 days or even later.

Keeping software safe is a constant battle for developers. As soon as security gaps appear and vulnerabilities are exploited, they have to develop patches as quickly as possible to update their software and better protect users. If users then wait a long time with the updates, their device is also more susceptible to attacks.

In order to reduce the security risk, you must always keep your operating system, browser, anti-virus program, and other software up to date. It is best to activate automatic updates in your software settings. Then you no longer have to deal with it yourself.

3. Use Reputable Antivirus Software

Fact: Over 600 million malware programs are targeting Windows users.

Antivirus software also plays a key role in keeping you safe on the Internet. A high-performance and reputable IT security solution can prevent harmful software from reaching your computer. It can also eliminate problems that your computer's defenses may have previously slipped. Remember to turn on automatic updates. Also, make sure that the settings of your antivirus solution match your computer usage and your surfing behavior. Here you will get, for example, a 30-day trial version of Malware.

4. Be Careful with E-Mail

Fact: 30 percent of all phishing emails are opened.

Email is one of the most common ways to spread malware. For example, hackers create serious-looking messages that contain tempting special offers or that appear to come from an official agency (bank, tax office, school, etc.). However, you can also receive emails from friends or colleagues whose computers are already infected. Most of the time, the messages contain a link and/or attachments that, when clicked, will download the malware or redirect you to a website to steal your data.

So always proceed with caution when reading your emails. Be skeptical of unusual offers. Always double-check the URL or file extension before opening any link or attachment. Be extremely careful about which websites you enter information on. Remember, if an email sounds too good to be true, it most likely is too.

5. Don't Forget Your Mobile Devices

Fact: The number of malware detected on Android devices doubled to over 4 million between 2015 and 2016 alone.

Around 50 percent of the world's population uses a smartphone these days. So it's not surprising that hackers are increasingly targeting mobile devices. Android devices are the most vulnerable. Malware for iOS, Windows Mobile, and other operating systems have proven less successful. If you are using an Android device, the best way to protect yourself is to get used to the same surfing behavior here as on the computer. Mobile anti-malware solutions such as Emsisoft Mobile Security offer additional protection.

6. Use Two-Step Authentication

Fact: 80% of data breaches could be prevented with two-step authentication.

Go one a step further with your online security and activate what is known as two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible.

What is 2FA

Many large websites that contain financial or personal information about you (such as Google, Amazon, PayPal, or banking websites) add extra protection by requiring you to verify your identity before you can sign in. While some providers will send you a verification code, others will give you an authentication devise that you use in addition to your regular login credentials. This may sound like a hassle, but it is a very effective way to prevent unauthorized login attempts.

Text messages are used very often at 2FA. However, it has been shown that SMS can be intercepted relatively easily. There are numerous examples where hackers manipulate telephone company employees into sending them a new SIM card and sending the victim's verification code to the new number. So use other options if possible.

7. Be Careful with Public WiFi

Fact: Every fourth WLAN hotspot does not use any encryption.

Public WiFi is great for staying connected while on the go. Unfortunately, there are also considerable security risks associated with this. Man-in-the-middle attacks, for example, are particularly common in public WLAN networks. Criminals intercept the information transmitted between your computer and a website to gain access to your e-mails, private documents, passwords, and much more.

So if you have a public WiFi network, always assume that someone is watching you. Never enter login credentials or banking information, and only send information that you don't mind if it's stolen. If you do need to transfer important data, first create a protected connection using a VPN (a virtual private network).

8. Surf Over an Encrypted Connection

Fact: As of January 2017, over 50% of the Internet has been encrypted.

When sending confidential data, always make sure that you are using an encrypted connection - whether you are posting photos on social networks or transferring an invoice. The easiest way to check this is via the address line in your browser. Internet addresses should begin with "HTTPS" (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) instead of the conventional "HTTP" (HyperText Transfer Protocol). In many browsers, this is also indicated by a lock symbol. The "s" at the end indicates that the connection is secure. They make it much more difficult for hackers to steal data. So never enter sensitive data on an HTTP page.

Unfortunately, HTTPS isn't perfect either. It must also be ensured that no-nonsense was driven with the data traffic coming in via the "secure" connection. For example, recent research shows that some antivirus providers spy on traffic over HTTPS to protect their users. However, this leaves some of the data vulnerable to theft.

9. Use Ad-Blockers

Fact: The use of ad blockers increased by 30% in 2016.

Surfing can be even more fun with a good adblocker. Not only will the pages load faster, but annoying advertisements will also be removed. Also, it offers security and more privacy by minimizing the risk of malvertising (spread of malware via advertising) and preventing advertising servers from collecting information about your surfing behavior.

10. Adjust Data Protection Settings

Fact: 42% of Europeans have never changed the default security settings on an account on their social networks.

In our increasingly transparent society, the settings of many websites are often not particularly privacy-friendly. We therefore often unconsciously disclose more information about ourselves than we would like, especially via social networks. You can avoid this if you change the data protection settings accordingly and create individual profiles according to your requirements. You can further reduce the risk of data theft by providing only the information you need to make the service work.

Browser plug-ins such as Ghostery and Privacy Badger offer even more privacy when surfing and better data protection. They ensure that third-party providers cannot track your activities on the Internet without your permission.

Confidently Careful

Internet threats don't need to be feared, but they need to be respected. By following the security tips listed here, you will be well protected from cybercriminals despite the shady sides of the Internet.

Have we forgotten something that our readers should also be interested in? Let us know in the comments so we can add it to the list.