Tips To Stay Safe On The Internet And Prevent Hacking

Hacking isn’t a new phenomenon. As the web world keeps expanding, attacks on internet
security have become more common. Cybercriminals have become smarter and hacking into
computer systems and mobile devices have become more frequent. Hence, it is of paramount
importance to protect yourself from cyber attacks and hacking. A few simple steps can go a long
way in ensuring your cyber safety. Here is a look at a few of them.

Create strong passwords:

The first and the most basic step towards your internet security is to ensure you have complex
and strong passwords for all your vital internet accounts. In simple words, don’t make it easy for
hackers by using a password like “123Alpha” or just “password". Our passwords are our weakest
links in the entire internet security framework. Make sure you use different passwords for every
account. In addition, a mix of random numbers, letters and special characters like *, #, or! would
help in making your password stronger and harder to hack for cybercriminals. Using a password
manager would be helpful too.

Use private web browsing:

Almost every browser these days comes with the option of private web browsing. It allows you
to browse the internet without producing a browser history. You can also use the “Do Not Track”
option in the settings of the private browsing mode. This means that advertisers and websites will
be unable to track your online activities and this will keep you safe.

Do not save your passwords online and disable autofill:

Browsers save your passwords to various accounts and we let them. While it might be
convenient to do so, it is also risky. Hackers can get hold of these browser-saved passwords in
numerous ways. Hence, it is always better to type your passwords manually each time and then
delete your browser history at the end of the day to be extra safe.
The same goes for the autofill option. It saves your personal information from forms that you fill.
Details like email id, phone number, and home address are stored. While it might be
cumbersome to type these details every single time, it is certainly safer than allowing your
browser to save them and allow hackers to access them easily. Hence, disable the autofill option
in your browser and type your details manually.

Block pop-up ads:

A lot of websites these days use pop-ups – small windows that automatically open when you
click on a website. These pop-up ads often carry malicious malware and phishing scams that may
greatly endanger your internet security. Thus, it is best to use some pop-up blocker app or simply
block them from your browser’s security setting in order to prevent them from causing any
damage.

Install antivirus software:

It goes without saying that your mobile and computer device needs to have strong antivirus
software installed for better virus protection. With the ever-increasing threats to internet security,
there are a number of antivirus software options in the market today. In addition to Windows
Defender, BitDefender, Kaspersky, Avast, Norton, McAfee, and BullGuard are some of the
reliable options you can go for. However, there are others to choose from as well depending on
your comfort. Once installed, don't forget to turn on the ‘auto-scan’ option in the antivirus.

Go for penetration testing:

To further ensure better internet security for your device you can opt for penetration testing – a
simulated cyber-attack, or ethical hacking, against your computer system to evaluate its security
against vulnerabilities. Using Kali Linux is your best option for penetration testing. It is an
advanced penetration testing distribution which makes ethical hacking a simplified task with its
array of handy tools. Moreover, it is free and is easily customizable.