4 Tips for Protecting Your Personal Info on the Web

Protecting Your Personal Info on the Web

With people spending more time on the web than ever before, cyber attacks saw a 600 percent increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a 2021 cyber security trends report released by PurpleSec.

Protecting yourself and your personal information on the web should never be an afterthought. Instead, it's important to learn the tactics and tricks you need to keep your info safe from cybercriminals. Keep reading to learn a few tips to help you learn how to do just that.


1. Choose Better Passwords

Choose Better Passwords

Passwords are a hot topic in internet security today. Despite most people knowing the importance of strong passwords, and of changing your passwords frequently, few actually practice safe password use.

About one in every five internet users is still using passwords that are at least 10 years old, reports Entrepreneur. Nearly 50 percent of people have passwords that are at least five years old. The top five most frequently used passwords perfectly illustrate just how unconcerned many internet users are with the threat of a hack — “password,” “123456,” and “12345” are all on the list.


2. Update Your Tech and Software Frequently

Update Your Tech and Software Frequently

If you've ever found yourself stuck waiting on an update to finish so that you can use your laptop or smartphone, you might be tempted to turn off automatic updates. Don't do that just yet.

Updates are essential to protecting your device and software security. Often, updates feature patches for known security issues. Without those patches, your devices and software may be even more vulnerable to hacks and threats.

Luckily, this is easy to avoid; simply run all updates when they become available or turn on automatic updates so you won't have to remember to check back for more later on.


3. Know Where to Find Your WiFi Password

Know Where to Find Your WiFi Password

Choosing strong passwords for your various online accounts and devices is important. But one password that many of us never think about until we don't have it is our WiFi password.

When you log into your WiFi, or any new wireless internet connection, for the first time, your device will automatically save the internet password. Then, when you get close to that WiFi source again, your device will automatically connect to the internet, without you having to re-enter your password.

But what happens when you need that password? If you didn't write it down and can't find it to give to a friend, you might think you're stuck. Luckily, it isn't that hard to find your password again; it's available on any device you previously connected to that WiFi source on. Learning how to find your WiFi password will help you to recover your password as needed.


4. Never Save Your Personal Information on Websites

Never Save Your Personal Information on Websites

Those who love shopping on the internet know just how convenient it is to autofill your shipping and payment information. But don't let convenience tempt you to put your security at risk. Saving your information means putting it out there for cybercriminals to find.

Instead, enter your information when you need it, and delete it when you're finished.


Protecting Your Personal Information on the Web

If you're ready to learn how to better protect your personal information on the web, these tips are a great place to start. From choosing better passwords to learning how to recover your WiFi password, put these tips to work today as you learn how to be even more tech-security-savvy.

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