#Ways to Stay Safe Online

[enterprisewired]

Ways to Stay Safe Online: Protecting Your Digital World

Source: linkedin.com

In this digitally driven world, the internet is a core element that helps us thrive in both personal and professional lives. We use the internet for social media, online shopping, banking, working remotely, and many more daily. But with increasing internet presence, the risk associated with it has increased too. This has increased cybercrime rates, and as time has changed so have the tactics of cybercriminals. So we have to be more aware while browsing online. In this article, we will find out ways to stay safe online and highlight effective methods to protect yourself from cyber threats. 

Here Are 10 Ways To Stay Safe Online To Protect Yourself From Cyber Threats:

1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords

One of the most important ways to stay safe online is by using strong, unique passwords for every account. Many people still use simple passwords like “123456” or “password,” which are incredibly easy for hackers to guess. To improve security, create complex passwords that include a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Additionally, avoid reusing passwords across different sites.

Using a password manager is a great way to keep track of your passwords without having to remember them all. These tools generate and store complex passwords securely, allowing you to use different passwords for every account without the hassle of memorizing them.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication is another highly effective method to enhance your security. It requires you to provide two forms of identification—usually something you know (a password) and something you have (a smartphone or security token)—before accessing an account. Even if someone manages to get hold of your password, they won’t be able to log in without the second form of authentication.

Many online services, including email providers, banks, and social media platforms, now offer two-factor authentication as an additional layer of security. It’s one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to stay safe online.

3. Keep Your Software Updated

Keeping your software updated is crucial for online security. Outdated software can have vulnerabilities that hackers exploit to gain access to your devices or personal information. This applies to your operating system, browsers, antivirus programs, and any apps you regularly use.

Most updates come with important security patches that fix known issues. Setting your devices to update automatically ensures you won’t miss critical updates, making it one of the easiest ways to stay safe online.

4. Be Wary of Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are one of the most common methods cybercriminals use to steal sensitive information. These scams often come in the form of emails, text messages, or even phone calls pretending to be from legitimate sources like your bank or a trusted company. They may ask you to click on a link or download an attachment, which could lead to malicious websites or install malware on your device.

To avoid falling victim to phishing scams, be cautious when opening unsolicited emails or messages. Always verify the sender’s identity and never click on suspicious links. Hover over links before clicking to see the actual URL, and report phishing attempts to the appropriate authorities.

5. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

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When using public Wi-Fi, your data is vulnerable to interception by hackers. One of the best ways to stay safe online, especially when accessing sensitive information, is to use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your internet connection, making it much harder for cybercriminals to intercept your data.

Whether you’re working remotely, browsing social media, or online shopping, a VPN adds an extra layer of protection, ensuring that your personal information remains private. Be sure to choose a reputable VPN provider that offers strong encryption and does not keep logs of your activity.

6. Limit the Information You Share on Social Media

Oversharing personal information on social media can make you a target for cybercriminals. Posting details like your full name, birthdate, address, or vacation plans can give hackers the information they need to impersonate you or break into your accounts.

One of the easiest ways to stay safe online is to review the privacy settings on your social media accounts. Limit who can see your posts and personal information, and avoid sharing details that could be used to guess your passwords or answer security questions. Be mindful of the information you share publicly and think twice before posting anything sensitive.

7. Be Cautious with Downloaded Files and Apps

Downloading files and apps from unverified sources can put your devices at risk of malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats. Always download software from official websites or trusted platforms, and be cautious of email attachments or links that prompt downloads.

Before installing any new app, check the reviews, permissions it requires, and whether it’s from a reputable developer. Malicious apps can often disguise themselves as legitimate, so taking these extra steps is a simple but effective way to stay safe online.

8. Secure Your Home Wi-Fi Network

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Your home Wi-Fi network is the gateway to all your internet-connected devices, so securing it should be a top priority. Start by changing the default password that comes with your router, as these are often easy to guess or find online. Use a strong password and, if possible, enable WPA3 encryption, which is the most secure protocol available.

It’s also a good idea to hide your network’s SSID (the name of your Wi-Fi network), so it’s not visible to others. By taking these steps, you can prevent unauthorized users from accessing your network, which is a critical way to stay safe online.

9. Be Mindful of Online Shopping and Banking

Online shopping and banking are convenient, but they also present potential security risks. To stay safe when shopping online, only use trusted websites that have secure payment gateways (look for “https” in the URL and a padlock symbol). Avoid using public Wi-Fi when making financial transactions, as your data could be intercepted.

Monitor your bank and credit card statements regularly for any unauthorized transactions. If you notice anything suspicious, report it to your financial institution immediately. Being vigilant about where and how you use your financial information is one of the key ways to stay safe online.

10. Educate Yourself About Online Security

Finally, staying informed is one of the most important ways to stay safe online. Cybersecurity threats evolve, and staying updated on the latest scams, data breaches, and protective measures will help you navigate the online world more safely. Consider taking online security courses or following reputable cybersecurity blogs and forums to stay informed.

Cybersecurity awareness can help you recognize potential threats before they harm you. The more you know about online risks, the better equipped you’ll be to protect yourself.

Conclusion

The internet has been a necessity in today’s world. But we cannot avoid the risk that follows with it. By practicing these ways to stay safe online, you can protect your data and reduce the chances of becoming a victim of this cyber threat. When it comes to online security, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and staying informed are proactive steps that ensure a safer digital experience for yourself and others.

[steveyockey]

I think it’s beautiful that for a lot of you I saw the tv glow will be about supernatural

[jichanxo]

how it started:

how it's going:

[3416]

thank you for sharing the positives to being a leafs fan because it gets exhausting watching the entirety of the hockey world stomp over a team that is dealt with the shorter end of the stick. your content makes me still hold onto faith for a team that isn’t loved.

my question is: do you believe that the leafs hate he justified as much especially in comparison to other teams in the league?

the thing about the leafs is that they have one of the biggest and widest reaching fanbases in the sport (if you go to any games on the road, you'll immediately know what i'm talking about... every arenas like half full of em), but it feels sort of like a love them or hate them in the nhl itself bc of the amount of rivalries and history. that's not even taking into account their surface meme-ability in modern day for being unable to get deep into the playoffs. at least we no longer have to hear a deluge of first round jokes tbh.

i honestly don't think anyone holds as much contempt for the leafs as much as a certain section of their own fanbase so i've never viewed it as a leafs vs everyone else thing, though it definitely is that too lol. i ALSO hate a portion of this fanbase more than i hate any other team or its fans tbh bc of the way they talk about their own damn players. might as well cease to call yourself a fan at a certain point imo regardless of the fact that you grew up with the team or whatever. i don't actually think the leafs are like. targeted or everyone hates them the most (all original 6 teams take a fair bit of heat tbh), but their fans online are the reason a lot of like goofy polls and stuff always read as the leafs being the most annoying/biased/delusional group. it's hard to disagree in some ways. i guess i don't put myself in a position to see a lot of leafs hate in general? i don't follow people who hate them or interact with people who hate them beyond finding ppl in this fanbase who have such nasty things to say, lol, so that colors my perception but. for as much hate as you might see, the leafs are definitely one of if not the most loved team too. center of the hockey world, it's true it's true. you gotta take the hate with the love, but i also think a big part of hockey/sport culture is just chirping and insults in general so fkljdsl. being able to parse what's actual hate and just jokes is also important.

[catkin-morgs-kookaburralover]

still thinking about that one time one of my friends' mother told me that at my age she would have killed herself except for the people who would have had to find her (and that she was glad she didn't). when she was telling me about how sometimes you do or don't do things for other people, not for yourself (this was as a response to my needing sutures for self harm that one time, in fact). and I. it should bother me, I know it should. but a non-zero part of me simply goes 'it would be fine if i did xyz and then told medical professionals so that it wouldn't be normal people finding me'. I don't care. I've freaking thrown up blood and not cared and kept going (clearly, I was fine, and that's only been like once... I think).

I think studying to become a nurse, especially the mental health subject, has desensitised me to a potentially dangerous degree. hm don't like that.

[eisthenameofme]

i wonder if there's the potential for a solution to the doxxing fucking over marginalized people specifically thing and/or the some people only being able/knowing where to engage with community online thing if we we were able to like. weaponize the relative lack of actual anonymity in the opposite direction.

like for one thing, instead of doxxing just resulting in problems from others in person, using that information to actively support the person instead, and for another for the other potentially more targeted use of the internet to find people to engage with in person (although that one you'd have to be even more careful about in case it worked in the opposite direction. I'm just thinking it would be nice to have something more structured/widespread than happening to find out your internet friends are in your local area, that could potentially be used to circumvent people not meeting in third spaces/other issues people have initially finding local community in person.)

It would be nice if instead of exclusively finding offline solutions/telling people how to be more careful we could also use what's often part of the problem to our advantage when it does happen. Like, having a way to address it that isn't only preventative.

[arrgh-whatever]

Hello. I just wanted to say thank you very much for your art, I relate to your small emotional drawings a lot. When I saw your comic about trying to lock yourself up and accepting yourself it made me cry really hard (not in a bad way), because it was the first time that I saw something like this... The way you're showing any emotion is beautiful, couldn't understand and agree more. Thank you very much for it, спасибо 💗

Thank you! I'm glad that what I do can be relatable for others

[canisvesperus]

Are we going to talk about the thinly veiled ableism towards high support needs autistic adults who frequent websites like deviantart for their hyperspecific non-fandomizable special interests, infrequent hygiene practices, “weird fetishes”, that are all clearly shaped by an experience with neurodiversity that is foreign to all y’all rebranded Asperger’s supremacists

[femmetay]

.

[panics-side-blog]

I never really get the TME/TMA thing because on paper I shouldn't go through transmisogyny but in execution people think I'm a trans woman or a woman.

I have been mistaken as a trans woman a lot of times, half of those times are from trans women themselves. I had been called a leech, tick, disgusting, reason why society goes down hill and all sorts of things because they thought I was a trans woman.

But I still go through the struggles of a trans man/masc, with the worries and fears.

Yet half of those things are fears that trans women face because I know how people see me.

At the end of the day people see me the way they want to see me, through the things they learned and the white culture they grew up in (yes race as something to do with it because my long hair is connected to my culture).

I feel like it's just a way to box people into neat little presents and forget GNC people, trans people with a very complicated relationship with their identity, non-white cultures and general trans/identity fuckery.

I heard and seen of gay cis men going through transmisogyny because they're hyper feminine and/or are drag queens and people believe their trans women because of it.

Maybe I don't understand the concept because I'm genuinely out of the loop with this one and don't really touch it even with a teen foot stick or maybe it's because the concept is faulty from the beginning.

Idk.

Either way, fight for trans women liberation, fight for trans men liberation fight for non binary liberation.

Fight for trans liberation in general and do that with heart, because one way or another our issue will become other people's issues one day.

It isn't all black and white as we always are let to believe.

[shameeater]

The end of online privacy

Now, this isn't something I usually post about from my silly goofy k1nk account (reminder to minors to not follow or scroll this acount).

But I have more followers on here than main, and this is extremely important. Like, scary shit.

This applies to everyone. If you're reading this? It's going to effect you.

I'm sure perhaps some of you have seen around about a this thing going around... KOSA, is one of the ways it's being referred to.

If this shit passes, lemme tell you...

LGBTQ+ adults and minors seeking help and community,

people looking for abortions,

people organizing protests,

anyone using their free speech to voice concerns about injustices, 

even FAN ARTISTS...

Even people reading fan fiction...

And for the purposes of where I'm posting from... people sharing and enjoying their k1nks, wanting to post things with safety and privacy... smut artists and writers, people even LOOKING for smut...

It's all gone. No privacy.

They'll have your face, your name, your age, where you live.

You'll need an ID to use any US-based platform, even if you're NOT in the United States.

Instead of dooming, here's what you can do to stop this shit in it's tracks 👍

Here is a website where you can sign a letter just by filling out a form, (it takes less than 30 seconds) and where you can call reps.

I HIGHLY suggest leaving calls if you're able, and if you have phone shyness, do this after 6pm, since it will leave messages instead.

I'm shy, but I did it!

Here's another letter to sign, takes less than 20 seconds.

Here is a form you can fill out sharing how the social media has POSITIVELY effected you.

Share all of this with as many people as you can. Our safety, freedom, joy, and protection online is at risk more than ever.

(Here is the thread where I found all of this information.)

STAY SAFE!

[zarithial]

thinking about the people who vanished without a trace. The mutual who reblogged something as usual and never came back online. The friend on discord who just disappeared, and when you go to check on them their account is deleted and theres no other way to contact them

I look out of my window and hope you are okay, I wish you well and Im sorry I didn't get to say goodbye.

I hope we meet again someday but until then. Stay safe. Stay alive. Be well.

[muppetsfan243]

Ahh, I figured it was because of the recent Twitter purge and many people migrating over here because of it. Damn, I really hope Tumblr does something about these bots and the people running/creating them. It really gets tiresome to get notifications here and have it be nothing but from these stupid spam/porn bots. I came here to look at stuff I like or interests me, not be bombarded with creepy dudes and their bots.

Look I know everyone is getting the porn bot follows but like .. what's are they even for? What's the point of them? What are they trying to accomplish?

[enfinizatics]

dear americans,

as a polish queer woman and human rights activist, i know exactly how you're feeling right now and what to expect from these elections. i lived through the 2015-2023 regime of pis, a right-wing populist party that divided families in the same way trump did. i’ve experienced the rise of fascism in poland, the influence of far-right parties like konfederacja, and their “santa’s little helpers”—ordo iuris, an ultra-conservative catholic organization (banned in many countries, mind you) that helped enforce a near-total abortion ban and runs anti-queer campaigns in public spaces. i supported the black protests in 2016 as a middle schooler when they first tried to ban abortion. as an adult, i actively participated in the 2020 women’s strike, running from police tear gas daily after they finally passed the ban. i supported friends who faced charges.

i’ve lived through intense homophobia in poland as a queer teen and adult. i survived the first pride march in my hometown, where far-right extremists threw stones and glass at us. i endured the anti-queer propaganda spread by the ruling party in state-owned media. i survived the “rainbow night,” poland’s own stonewall moment in summer 2020, when police arrested around 50 queer activists following the arrest of margo, a nonbinary activist. i survived the "lgbt-free zones," the targeted violence, the slurs from strangers on the street, and the protests i held against queerphobia. it was hard as fuck, but i survived.

but just because i survived, it doesn’t mean others did. many women died because of the abortion ban—marta, justyna, izabela, dorota, joanna, maria, and many others who didn’t survive pis’s draconian anti-abortion laws. milo, kacper, michał, zuzia (she was 12), wiktor, and other queer and trans kids and young adults took their own lives because of the relentless queerphobia.

despite all of this, our experience in poland can serve as a guide now. here are some tips for staying safe and how we, polish queers and women, organized under the regime:

safety first, always. if you know someone who’s had an abortion, no you don’t. if you know someone is trans, no you don’t. if you know people who help with safe abortions, no you don’t—at least not until you know it’s 100% safe to share. if you are queer or have had an abortion, only share this with people you trust fully. most importantly, not everyone has to be an activist just because they’re part of a minority. if it feels unsafe to share that you're queer, trans, etc., then don’t. it doesn’t make you any less queer.

use secure, encrypted messaging like signal for conversations on potentially risky topics, such as queerness, abortion, organizing counter-actions, protests—anything that might be used against you.

stay anonymous online. if you want to research or report something without surveillance, do not use regular internet. get a vpn (mullvad is affordable and reliable), download the tor browser (for both onion and standard links), and if you plan to whistleblow, consider using a riseup email account.

organize and build networks. community is everything now. support each other, foster independence, because your government won’t have your back. set up collectives, grassroots movements. create lists of trusted professionals—lawyers, doctors, etc.—who can offer support.

to lawyers and doctors: please consider pro-bono work. this is what got us through poland’s hardest times. your work will be needed now more than ever.

for protests or risky actions: always write a pro-bono lawyer’s number on your arm with a permanent marker.

get to know the anarchist black cross federation and other resources on safety culture: "Starting an anarchist black cross group: A guide"; Still We Rise - A resource pack for transgender and non-gender conforming people in prison; Safe OUTside the system by the Audre Lorde Project;

for safe abortion info or involvement: get familiar with womenhelpwomen.

stay radical, stay strong, stay informed: The Anarchist Library

if i forgot to (or didn't) include something, don't hesitate to reblog this post with other resources.

[sadfraudfrogs]

I currently need to throw my phone into a river because if my mum looks through my phone I'm fucked

[proudfreakmetarusonikku]

tbh like. i'd take someone writing something weird with full intentionality than someone writing it by accident and screwing it up any day of the week. at least the first group tag it lol