6 Steps to Stay Safe Online by
Antivirus Software
Online learning presents a
new set of risks for both families and educators
Back
to school season is upon us. And this year, things look a little
different. Families and teachers alike have to adjust to the reality
of online and distance learning, often facing a steep learning curve to become
familiar with various tools, software, and online curricula.
As
if the transition to online education was not enough, the prevalence of scams
Covid-19 (English site) continues to put at risk our online
security. Cybercriminals around the world are on the move, trying to
take advantage of the current pandemic. As we are now closer than ever to
online, this can spell trouble for our digital identities. When
returning to school, it is crucial that students, parents, and educators ask
themselves an important question: What exactly can we do to stay safe when
online? Here are five tried and true steps we can all take to be
more cyber, both now and in the future.
1. Protect yourself through a VPN
Do you think that the incognito mode
of your browser protects you from being tracked on the
Internet? Think again. Incognito or "private"
mode is designed to keep your browsing history secret from anyone who tries to
access your computer from their computer. So it's great if you don't
want others to know what sites you visit, but not so great if you don't want
Facebook, Google, your boss, or the government to know what you're doing
online.
For that, you need a virtual private
network (VPN). A VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection so that
any information you send or receive over the internet is protected from
everyone from hackers to the government.
2. Use a reliable DNS
A domain name system (DNS) is the tool
computers use to get you to the sites you want to visit. So, for
example, when you type "facebook.com" in the bar at the top of the
screen, your computer communicates with DNS, which returns with a series of numbers
so that your computer can take you to Facebook. However, an
untrusted DNS can send false information that leads you to a hacked version of
the site you are trying to access. A reliable DNS, on the other
hand, protects your computer by always sending the real version of the
websites.
3. Know your browser
Your browser has a lot to do with how
safe you will be when online, and with so many browsers to choose from these
days, it is important to know exactly how your browser helps you stay safe
online. For example Avast Secure Browser, Protegent 360 Antivirus Software,
are primarily focused on privacy and security: built-in features to hide and
protect your personal information, prevent hackers from stealing your data, and
block ads for faster browsing and online learning.
4. Update your software
One of the most important things you
can do to stay safe online is to regularly update your
software. Software updates, from the applications you use every day
to the operating system on your computer or phone, often come with security
updates, large and small. However, if you don't download the update,
your device is open to attack from those security breaches.
5. Use a password manager
If, for example, you were the victim
of a phishing attack via email or social media, how
secure would the rest of your accounts be? If you use the same
password for multiple sites, it is not very secure. That is why it
is essential to create unique passwords for each login and each website.
But who has the memory to keep track
of all of those? Certainly not me. That's where password
managers come in. Password managers are safe vaults where you can store all
your passwords. All you have to remember is a master password to
access whatever login information you need. They will also generate
random passwords for you, either as a combination of letters and numbers or as
unrelated words.
And if you want to create a password
on your own, without the help of a password generator, one idea is to use three
completely disconnected words, such as zebraautohouse, words that you can
combine to get a more secure password.
6. Make use of
Today's elementary school students are
incredibly tech savvy. This enables them to learn to read and write,
as well as interact with online tools, at a young age. While this
development is important for children, it also means that they face digital threats before
they are able to adequately protect themselves.
Since it can be difficult for children
to identify suspicious content online, installing an ad blocker can help them
navigate the web and avoid malicious ads.
The
Internet is amazing, but it is also dangerous. It is up to each of
us to become more aware of cyberspace and share that knowledge with others, so
that we can protect ourselves and stay safe as we prepare for the upcoming
school year. Follow these tips with the Antivirus Software of
your choice and you're off to a great start.
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