INTERNET SECURITY AND ITS SAFETY MEASURES
Social networks, streaming series and movies, online shopping. We spend more and more of our time and life online, as just as we make sure to protect our home, it is also important to improve internet security.
What is internet security?
Internet
security is a branch of computer security whose mission is to identify and
prevent threats that affect the network. Its objective is to create methods,
procedures and standards that allow the identification and elimination of
vulnerabilities in the information that is exchanged over the internet and in
mobile devices and computer equipment.
The most common online scams are
related to identity theft, online shopping, and trickery to get money,
information theft or computer attacks:
Impersonation: Cybercriminals
contact you as if they were your bank to inform you of a suspicious activity
and, to solve it, they ask you for your access codes and passwords. Once
obtained is when they make a fraudulent use of your card or bank account.
According to the access channel, a difference is made between: phishing, when they
contact by email; smishing, if they do it through mobile; or vishing, if they
call you directly by phone. To avoid these scams, you should not reveal
information about the card's pin, password or CVV to anyone.
Fake tech support scams:
In this case, they contact you by phone or email to notify you that the
computer is infected by a virus and offer you an application to eliminate it,
although in reality it is malicious software. Keep in mind that no technical
service will call you to notify you of this problem, so ignore these calls, or
install any program.
Online shopping scams: These
are fake websites that simulate the real page, but once the purchase and
payment are made, the products do not arrive. To make safe purchases online,
the main thing is to always check the company's information and use verified
payment systems.
Online sales scams: If you
sell second-hand products online, you can also be scammed. In these cases they
offer to pay a higher amount in exchange for you accepting a payment system
that is reversible; and that they will withdraw when you make the shipment. So
they keep the product and the money.
Tips to increase internet security
Achieving total
security on the internet is practically impossible in a hyper-connected
world like today. However, you can take protective measures to strengthen your
online security.
How to protect my privacy on the internet?
Browse incognito mode. With this
function, no data is shared with the browser, nor is information about the
pages visited, browsing history, web cache, passwords, cookies, or form
information saved.
It uses virtual private networks
that hide the IP address and redirect traffic through an encrypted tunnel.
Avoid free wireless networks to
access banking or make online purchases, as they are more accessible to
cybercriminals. If you need to use your computer or tablet, it is better to
create a private Wi-Fi with your mobile data.
How to perform safe browsing
Have the antivirus activated and
the operating system and applications updated to have the latest in security
and activate the security measures of the browsers.
Use VPN: Check the security of the
web pages. A secure address must contain the https protocol or include the
padlock in the browser bar. Also pay attention to the browser's warnings about
insecure sites and examine installed extensions to prevent the entry of
malware.
Backups: Make regular backups to
keep your data safe from the threat of ransomware, a type of cyberattack that
encrypts your computer's folders and prevents you from accessing them for a
financial ransom.
Choose strong passwords:
Choose strong passwords. Never use the same password for different websites and
applications. Always choose long and random keys because they are stronger. You
can use password managers to generate and remember them.
Double factor verification:
Sets the two-factor verification. That is, in addition to entering your
password, you must provide a random key that is only generated on a device that
you own (it can be an SMS or a self-generated key) or a biometric verification,
such as fingerprint or facial recognition. This type of verification is used by
PSD2, which has established strong authentication to minimize the risk of
identity theft and to make online purchases more secure.
How to make safe purchases online?
Credit card: Never
give your credit card information directly to the page. Make sure you use
intermediate payment platforms and check the charges in the bank account.
Verify the web information:
Verify the information on the web. Check that you have the contact information
in case you have to make a claim and also confirm all the product information
(delivery time, shipping costs, and means of payment and return conditions).
Personal information: Do not
provide personal information. Give only the mandatory data to make the purchase
and do not authorize the use of this data for any other use.
If you follow these tips, you
will improve your security on the internet and you will be more protected
against possible attacks by cybercriminals.
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