How to Stay Safe Online?

Man Watching iPad

On February 27th 2023, Malaysians were shocked as a man from Kuching suffered a loss of RM1 million after answering a 14 second phone call. This shows that cyber threats and online scams have become more and more advanced. Thus, it has become essential for us to prioritize our safety online, as there are many risks involved that may actually harm you in your real life.

In this article, we will talk about what you need to do in order to surf the website with confidence.

Browse Safely and Avoid Phishing!

While browsing the internet, you must be very careful of the websites that you visit. You must make sure to avoid clicking on suspicious links, including in your messages, emails and even pop-up windows! These links may lead to a phishing website, where it will trick unsuspecting users into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card details and next thing you know, your money is gone! 

Set a Unique Password!

Password

Create a strong and unique password for each of your account online. Use mixes between uppercases and lowercases letter included with numbers and symbols. You can use a Password Manager to keep you from forgetting your password. Avoid using common phrases or your personal information like your Identification Card’s back last 4-digit numbers that could easily be guessed by hackers.

Updates are important!

Software Update

Getting your devices up to date is important as developers frequently release updates to patch vulnerabilities and improve security. This includes your software, operating systems, antivirus programs, drive, and many more. If you are the type that always forgets to update, you can actually enable automatic update in your devices to ensure you have the latest update, to protect you from cyber threats. 

Backup Your Data!

Data Backup

Frequently back up your files and data to either an external hard drive or a secure cloud storage service such as Google Drive, Dropbox and Apple iCloud. These cloud storages are very easy to use and the storage charge is quite affordable. This practice can ensure you that even if your device is compromised or experiences a hardware failure, your data remains intact in your storage. You can also encrypt your data on your cloud storage to make sure it’s extra protected. 

Use Two-Factor Authentication!

Facebook

The two factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. It will require you to those (including you) who are trying to log into your account online to provide a second verification step. The requirements may vary from providing the device with a fingerprint scan, SMS code, code via call, or an authentication app. Enabling the two factor authentication step will help prevent your account from getting hacked and accessed without your permission.

Be Mysterious!

Mysterious

Did you know that social media platforms are actually considered as cybercriminals’ playground? They use social media to get your personal information to exploit your vulnerabilities. This method is called social engineering and is very dangerous. Be cautious of the information that you share online, such as your locations, daily routines, or maybe upcoming trips. This all can be seen by criminals. In addition to that, review your privacy settings on social media to limit who can see your posts and personal details. If needed, be mysterious! Let your online presence be unknown. It’s safe and better that way.

Conclusion

All in all, it is crucial to prioritize our online safety due to the advancement of cyber threats and online scams. Do keep in mind, it is only you who can reveal your secrets online. It is a decision that you have to make. A tough one, as this is the era where you will be considered as ‘old’ when you have no social media. But if you really have to get online, we hope that you can stay safe online and protect yourself from potential harm in both the digital and real world by following our tips.

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