{"id":20756,"date":"2019-03-11T09:47:57","date_gmt":"2019-03-11T17:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=20756"},"modified":"2022-09-09T09:37:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-09T17:37:18","slug":"simple-ways-to-stay-safe-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/simple-ways-to-stay-safe-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple Ways to Stay Safe Online"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’re reading this, you’re safe and<\/em> online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe you’re relaxing on the couch with your laptop from the comfort of home. Or maybe you’re reading this on a phone during a lunch break (or at your desk – we won’t tell!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But being safe and<\/em> online is not the same thing as being safe online<\/em>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s a lot more to internet safety than choosing one strong universal password. Here are some ways to keep you and your family safe online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose Strong Passwords<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

That being said – speaking of passwords, how strong is yours? Do you have different ones for every account?  Internet hackers know the kinds of bad passwords<\/a> everyday people like to use, and that\u2019s why it\u2019s essential you put some effort into devising strong ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strong passwords<\/a> are longer, more \u201crandom,\u201d and use combinations of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. Make sure to change your passwords frequently, as strong passwords don\u2019t last forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also a wide variety of great password managers<\/a> you can utilize (though most do require purchase).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use an Anti-Virus Software<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anti-virus protection software is an important\nway to ensure data security online. Anti-virus software protects your machine\nfrom malware and is a vital part of any smart user\u2019s safety toolbox. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a lot of solutions to choose from, but be aware that there are also fake anti-virus softwares<\/a> that are viruses themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a list of some of the best legit ones.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check Your Digital Footprint<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keeping tabs on what\u2019s in the public record is\na smart way to understand your digital footprint<\/a> and see what strangers\n– friendly, or not-so-friendly – can find out about you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a simple Google search will give you\nsome idea, we recommend using a dedicated people search engine<\/a>, which allows you to\nsearch yourself by name, home address<\/a>, phone\nnumber<\/a> or email address<\/a>. A reverse email search is\nparticularly useful, as it will look to bring up social media profiles you may\nhave created and show what\u2019s public. From there you can take steps to adjust\nyour privacy settings on social media. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Browse with a VPN<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are becoming more popular<\/a>\nfor a good reason: they allow you to browse the web securely without the threat\nof advertisers, or anyone else for that matter, stealing your information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

VPNs generally cost a few bucks a month, but are\nwell worth it for anyone wanting to browse privately. Here\nare a list of some good ones to consider<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Install a Parental Control App<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most children spend hours<\/a> online or in front of screens\nevery day chatting, playing games, and texting. Do you know what they\u2019re\nlooking at, or who they\u2019re talking to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a variety of parental control apps<\/a> on the market to help\nyou monitor your child\u2019s activity online and see\nwho they\u2019re texting<\/a>. Apps like FamilyTime<\/a> not only allow you to limit\nscreen-time, but will give you browser history, phone\/text logs, app usage and\nmore. You deserve to know <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t Open or Respond to Suspicious\nEmails<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever received an email from a mystery\nsender asking you to click a link, or respond to claim a prize? Dude, you\n(almost) just got  \u201cPhish\u2019d\u201d!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phishing (such as the infamous 419 scam<\/a> originating from Nigeria) is\nby far one of the most common, and costly, forms of cyber crime. Phishing fraud\ninvolves a scammer attempting to gain access to sensitive information (social\nsecurity number, credit card information, passwords) via fraudulent emails or\ntext messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s an endless variety of online scams out there, from phishing emails (messages that redirect you to a fraudulent website in hopes of getting you to enter your data), to fake bitcoin exchanges<\/a>, to “catfish” romance scams<\/a> on dating sites. Though their methods may vary, online fraudsters are essentially all confidence tricksters: they want to secure your trust and have you let your guard down. You should never <\/em>click suspicious links or respond to emails from strange domains. If you don\u2019t recognize the sender, toss it in the trash. If you do recognize the sender, but the email seems out of character for your contact, toss it and let the sender know they may have been hacked. Don\u2019t share personal information before ensuring you know the person asking for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to know who\u2019s emailing or calling\nyou, do a background\nsearch<\/a> to verify their identity. If you don\u2019t recognize them, back\naway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secure Your Browser<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re using Firefox or Chrome, periodically take a look at your browser settings to see what\u2019s checked (or unchecked). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a smart idea to be careful with installing plugins or extensions, as these can be forms of third-party viruses that track your data or barrage you with pop-ups. Here\u2019s a handy guide<\/a> for securing your browser so that you\u2019re browsing safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Tabs on Recent Data Hacks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately with big data comes big\nresponsibility, and many corporate giants have failed the test. Massive data\nbreaches are constantly happening and putting millions of consumers at risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The helpful and delightfully-monikered site Have I Been Pwned?<\/a> Is a helpful guide for\nfinding out how safe your info is in the wake of the latest data hack.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of the above are simple and easy ways to\nstay safe online, but it doesn\u2019t end there. For more information on browsing\nsafely and securely, check out this helpful article from Time.<\/a> A\nfew simple rules go a long way towards making you, your family (and your\nwallet), safer. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you’re reading this, you’re safe and online. Maybe you’re relaxing on the couch with your laptop from the comfort of home. Or maybe you’re reading this on a phone…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":20758,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[614],"tags":[566,668,568],"class_list":["post-20756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-safety","tag-data-security","tag-digital-footprint","tag-internet-security"],"yoast_head":"\nSimple Ways to Stay Safe Online | The Compass<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you're reading this, you're safe and online. 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