Stay Safe Online with These Tips

Operating a computer is a lot like driving a car. Just as you practice defensive driving when you’re at the wheel, you should be concerned about protecting your personal information, files and entire operating system whenever you go online. Following some simple computer safety tips beyond using antivirus software can help you keep your computer clean and safe when you use the internet.

First, remember that most computer infections happen because of an action you or another person using your computer takes while online. Viruses, worms and malicious software find their way into your operating system when you downloaded infected files from a website or an email message, or when you’ve loaded a suspicious site without knowing what the consequences could be. So, the first computer-safety tip is to be vigilant whenever you’re online. Never open email attachments from anyone you don’t know, and if you receive an odd attachment from a trusted source, check with the source before opening the attachment. Never visit a website if you have any concerns about its level of security.

The second computer safety tip involves protecting your personal information on the internet. If you purchase goods or services online, check payment pages – the place where you key in your credit card or bank routing numbers – to make sure those pages are secure. You can tell by looking at the URL for the page, which should start with https://. The "s" in https indicates you are dealing with a safe and secure site. If you do not see this at the beginning of the URL for a site asking you for personal or payment information, do not submit any.

A related computer safety tip is to consider using only one credit card for all your online purchases so it’s easier to track charges that look unusual. By using one card that’s dedicated to online purchases, you limit the number of credit card numbers you put into circulation online. Some banks also offer virtual cards that are good for one-time purchases. These cards enable you to shop online with a temporary number that’s linked to your bank account, but the merchant or service provider only sees the temporary number and does not have access to your true account information.

The fourth computer safety tip involves passwords. Nearly every account you set up online will ask for a username and password, and many people use the same usernames and passwords for multiple accounts, thinking they will be easier to remember for all accounts. Others set their usernames and passwords once and continue using them indefinitely. Both of these approaches are risky for obvious reasons. If hackers gain access to a username and password you use for multiple accounts, they only need to know where you hold accounts to gain easy access to them. If a hacker learns what your bank password was three years ago and you haven’t changed it since, you’re an easy target for identity theft.

Finally, when reviewing computer safety tips, you must remember to install and continuously update antivirus software and an antimalware application. Antivirus software, which is often free to download, offers a basic level of protection against viruses and spyware, and it can usually run automatic scans on a schedule you choose. Meanwhile, antimalware applications seek out and remove malicious software that can infect your computer and give hackers and other criminals access to your computer system.
Your internet security lies in your hands alone. Following these computer safety tips can help you maintain a basic level of security to protect yourself against identify theft and other cyber assaults.

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