Tips on how to practice being safer on the internet...
A must in the world we live in...
We all know that being online comes with a huge risk factor. Whether that means in your personal capacity, or the compromise of your devices, there is a clear risk each time we expose ourselves to the world wide web.
So in true nature, it is important to stay aware, and be vigilant when using the internet. One of the best practices has got to be never, ever sharing your personal information (your address, your banking information, etc.) online.
We got in touch with some experts in the field, our IT team, and they gave us with some top tips.
In order of importance, we noted down their tips:
1. Don't click on anything dodge looking, so for instance if you see something that looks like it's too good to be true, it generally is. This could be something that looks 'click baity'.
2. If you receive a document from someone, and it prompts you to enter personal information, steer clear. If you are not sure about something then contact the sender, if you know them, if you do not, delete immediately.
Read more: KZN police warn of govt tender fraud scams
3. It is certainly a good practice to clear your cache and search history.
4. If you are uncertain about emails from service providers, then always contact the help centre, before providing them with any information. Pay attention to the logo, the company name, and the website. Sometimes hackers can create a page that looks exactly like the real page.
For more from East Coast Radio
5. Always check if a site that you are interacting with is safe. Basically, there is a lock sign in the URL section, if you click on the lock then a pop-out box will appear with the information of the site. You are looking for the message: "Connection is secure". If the site is not secure, do not engage with it.
See the images below, to see an example of a secure site.
These are just some of the best practices and tips that you can follow to make sure you are using the internet in a secure way.
Remember it's best to be sure about something, rather than just clicking and regretting...
Image Courtesy of Unsplash Website