It’s the year 2021 and the chances are that you’re well connected to the internet on some form of computer. The internet can be a really fun world to explore, but it also comes with a wide range of dangers that can cause your computer issues as well as leaving your details vulnerable. Every single time you access the internet, you connect to servers that help keep it running. When your data is transferred, it is left vulnerable to cyberattacks and this is why it is important to make sure that your computer is protected. Luckily there are steps you can take to make sure your computer is secure.
Put a Firewall Up
Although it might sound complicated, it isn’t. A firewall is your computer’s first line of defense against viruses and other attacks. The Windows operating system comes with a free firewall built-in and should be pre-configured to offer you protection. There are also countless other firewalls out there that you can pay for to get even better protection from nasties like malware. You can head over to the guys at Total IT for more information and support. You wouldn’t leave your front door open and this is the same principle.
Stay on the Beaten Track
When you’re browsing the internet, your safest option is to make sure you stay on verified sites. To make sure a website you are visiting is verified, look to the address bar for the little padlock symbol. Whenever you need to give out personal details on banking sites, for instance, look out for the padlock as well as the ‘https://’ prefix on the URL – this stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure and it means that the site is secure.
Make a Copy
Computers are prone to several failures that can render you unable to access your data. Make sure you keep a backup of any files you can’t live without losing. You can transfer your data to a storage device or make a copy in a cloud storage system. Having a backup will help you if you are attacked with ransomware, which encrypts and locks your data until you pay a ransom.
Keep Personal Information Personal
You probably know that you shouldn’t give out important details like your credit card information or social security out online unless you truly and completely trust a website. Further than just your important information, you might want to think about what you post on social media. Revealing things like your favorite restaurant, where you were born, or even your pet’s name could allow cybercriminals to access your accounts because the chances are you used some of this information as security question answers.
There are a lot of ways to keep your computer safe and these tips are just a basic starting point. When you use the internet, you can get a lot of enjoyment, but if you aren’t careful you can stumble across a lot of problems. Prevention is always better than the cure.
