The internet is a beautiful place. However, there are also certain risks to surfing the internet which can be easily avoided. Yet, unfortunately, many people fall into these traps due to the expansive nature of the internet.

Here are five tips that will help you to stay safe when looking at websites on the internet:

  • Watch out for Phishing Scams: a phishing scam will essentially use a fraudulent website to trick a user into disclosing private information. This is usually a way to access login details for an account. It could be anywhere from accessing login details to your Facebook account to obtaining access to your bank account login details. It is essential to avoid clicking on links or open attachments that you’re not familiar with. When a website asks you for specific information or asks you to log into something, always consider whether the website you are on is legitimate or could be a scam.
  • Keep your personal information private: Hackers have been known to gain access to people’s social media accounts, and once they’ve gained access, lock down your privacy settings. This is because it can sometimes be all too simple to obtain the details required to bypass some security methods on social media. If all it takes is knowing your birthday and mother’s maiden name, then a hacker can likely obtain this from many people. It is wise to try and keep your personal information private, and if possible, on these security questions, opt for something a little more obscure that many people wouldn’t be able to know.
  • Shopping Safely: Any good eCommerce Website Development Company should be able to produce an eCommerce website that is safe and secure for visitors, but there are some bad eCommerce sites out there that create risks for users. Before shopping on a site, make sure it uses secure technology. For example, when you are at the checkout screen, verify that the web address begins with “HTTPS” and check if a small locked padlock symbol appears on the page. This signifies the website should be secure.
  • Keep your device up to date: One of the easiest ways for hackers to obtain access to a device and all the data saved on it is if you have failed to update to the latest version. Often old versions of operating systems or web browsers have holes in them that can be exploited, which is why they were updated. It is always wise to turn on automatic updates for all of your devices.

Use strong passwords: We are all guilty of inputting the most simple password that we can easily remember. Who wants to put five numbers and five special characters in a random order, right? But setting a strong password that is at least eight characters in length and includes a mixture of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters really does significantly reduce the likelihood of someone being able to access your account.