Seven tips to prepare for the next online threat

What you put online is completely your choice and ensuring its safekeeping is your responsibility.

What’s more important than protecting your privacy online Nothing—right Well, with almost 90 per cent of all our information out there, protecting it is one of the most important need of the hour, especially when you hear that almost every website out there is potentially under threat from hackers. Not only hackers, there are millions of websites that are filled with malware, adware, Trojans and more that are ready to tap into your daily activities and mine your data.

Since most of our communication today is via the internet, protecting your private information is crucial, and one breach into the servers could put you at high risk. Your username, passwords, bank accounts, photos, emails, everything is at risk. Eliminating the internet as a medium of communication in today’s world is almost next to impossible. So what should you do in order to protect your privacy online Here are some tips which could help you protect yourself on the internet, and also help you prepare for the next online threat.

Using safe browsers:

While most internet browsers are almost identical, some come built with ad blockers, while others are encrypted for better protection. So if you think Google’s Chrome is completely safe, think again. Chrome has the ability to link your account, activity and more, to the entire Google ecosystem, and your footprint lies deep within. Every activity you do on Chrome can affect your complete internet activity—aren’t you surprised to see ads customised to what you were searching a while ago We recommend using a more private browser such as Tor, which can wipe your tracks and clean them after you are done. If you want to stick to your present browser, we suggest you head to the settings and alter the privacy settings and increase them wherever possible.

Be careful with your online searches: As earlier mentioned, Google’s search engines are smart and they pick up every bit of information you search for to alter your online experience. For example, if you are searching for accessories for your car, you will be targeted with ads related to cars and parts. Your search behaviour is definitely being sold (if not already) to businesses who know your shopping (and search) habits. There are many browsers out there which can help you keep your browsing habits a secret. DuckDuckGo is one such browser. WhatsApp, Messenger are not as private: With the recent information about WhatsApp now sharing your data with Facebook (as thought they did not have the option to do it earlier), it seems like none of your ‘private’ chats will be as private anymore. With all your information travelling on this platform being highly encrypted, you can be sure that no one will be able to snoop into your conversations. However, with your contact details and your chatting behaviour, we are pretty much sure that Facebook can track and sort the data about who you are chatting with, how long, and where and when you are posting data. So when you are using online messaging apps, make sure you are not giving out too much information about yourself. You could also switch to a highly secure chatting application, such as MeWe or CyberDust, which claim that they will not track your usage or target you with ads.

Use an encrypted online storage: With numerous online data storage options out there, it gets pretty confusing choosing between the cost-effective one and the one that offers better protection. Well, you are free to choose the ones that suit you, but make sure that your data is encrypted on your PC before you are storing them online. This way, even the servers out there cannot tap into your data. SpiderOak is one example that encrypts data before uploading it.

Stay social, but limited: Facebook, Google+, Twitter etc are productive for sure. However, you should ensure that you are not linking these accounts to any third-party services, if they are not as popular and trusted. Many websites and services out there offer you to sign in with your social networking accounts so that they get most of the information that they need from these social networking services. Though they make it easier (and faster) to subscribe to their websites, it could also put your privacy at a huge risk. Since many services could be linked to your personal social networking accounts, a simple breach into one of the third-party services could almost empty out your pockets. Make sure you enrol yourself with such services only if you know they are trusted enough. Else, take that additional time and steps to make a new account rather than using your existing social media credentials. Remember—many service out there are limited to cross-country regulations and suing the fraudulent service could be almost impossible.

Keep your smartphone secure: Governments across the world are constantly behind smartphone companies and various messaging and social media apps to give them the keys to the encryption. Though this ‘legal’ opening of the backdoor can be fruitful to safeguard the country in the interest of national security, there are thousands of hackers out there who are also waiting for the same keys. Smartphone operating systems are not as secure as you think. While Google’s Android is equally secure as Apple’s iOS, BlackBerry is still considered superior over the other two. However, each operating system has their own vulnerabilities—Android can be rooted, and iPhones can be jailbroken. When the smartphone has been compromised, they are highly vulnerable to data backdoors where rogue apps can take advantage of the administrative privileges and send them back to the waiting hacker. Never root or jailbreak your smartphone and ensure that you are constantly updated with the latest operating systems and their software updates in time.

Keep your passwords strong, changing: Changing your passwords frequently is the best way to safeguard your online identity. However, many people prefer to keep the passwords as they are since they are easy to remember. And there are a few too many who prefer to keep a common password for most of their online services. Doing so could end you into trouble as a single hack can compromise all your data online. Always keep different passwords for different accounts. If possible, use biometrics such as fingerprints, or use a two-step authentication wherever possible. Refrain from using simple passwords that can be easily guessed by friends or known ones. Use alphanumeric passwords mixed with special characters. Change them frequently (at least once in two months, if not less). And never use a password manager, even if you trust it.

Remember: There’s nothing out there that cannot be broken. What you put online is completely your choice and ensuring its safekeeping is your responsibility.