Surfing the Internet is already an action we do routinely, almost without realizing it. We visit pages, we shop, we play games, we watch movies… everything. However, we do not have to let habit make us relax too much, we must remember that we are connected to a network with millions of other people, and not all with good intentions. Therefore, it is advisable never to forget some aspects related to our safety while we navigate . Here are 10 practical and useful tips.
Check your address bar
Whenever you browse, keep in mind the address bar of your browser. It is a tool that can help you to know the level of security in which you are. If there is a small padlock with the word "It's safe" on it, that's ideal . It will generally be accompanied by the “//” protocol before each address. When that safety cannot be guaranteed and we see an exclamation point, be vigilant. It does not necessarily mean that we are on a dangerous page, but it can be a first indication.
Control information tracking
As much or more than viruses, information tracking can be serious practices that affect our privacy. For this reason, it is ideal to have a program or extension of the Ghostery style downloaded. This program detects which pages carry out information crawls and which ones do not . In this way, you can select the type of sites you prefer to visit.
If we use Firefox, this browser already has a built-in function called Do Not Track . This does not prevent, as in the case of Ghostery, from actually tracking. Of course, send a message to the pages where you make it clear that you do not agree with these practices. In some cases, companies do honor the request and stop.
Don't click on the advertising banners
It is true that many times they make it quite difficult for us, because they hide the buttons to close the window, or they are banners that chase us. Either way, don't click: in 90% of cases they will take you to pages of questionable security and content . Even if you are really interested in marrying a Russian woman, use other means and don't jeopardize your team.
Better PayPal than card
Whenever you have the possibility, much better to use PayPal than your card. This system will protect your checking account or credit card data , and the only thing you will have to be sure of is that your password is secure, which brings us to the next point.
Do not repeat passwords
We know that there are many passwords that we have to accumulate on the Internet. Social networks, different email accounts, banks and a thousand more. However, do not give in to laziness, and especially in tools like PayPal or the bank, use specific passwords that have nothing to do with the ones you generally use . Repeating passwords too much multiplies the potential damage that a hacker can do just by logging into one of our accounts: the first thing they will do is test that same account for the rest of our social networks or associated accounts.
Use private session on public computers
Libraries, call centers or simply friends' houses, don't forget to always use a private session. These sessions are characterized because they do not save the names or passwords of the places we visit , in addition to erasing our visits from the history. Still, be sure to log out of your email, Facebook, or whatever you've been looking at.
Always buy or download on official pages
When it comes to shopping online, it's easy to get swept up in really cheap product deals. But usually the bargain hides the catch. For example, if you want some Ray Ban glasses, look for the official website of the brand or other pages selling glasses that are official . In these cases, checking the browser's address bar can be of great help (first tip).
Regularly clear cookies and cache
The more we surf the net, the more we accumulate cookies and temporary files on our computer. This, ultimately, is computer garbage that our browser is saving. With some regularity, it is good to go through the History section of our browser and go to the Clear browsing data menu . There we will have the possibility to delete cookies and files stored in the cache. Doing it once a month is a quick practice that will keep our browser healthy.
Trust your firewall or antivirus
If you use a firewall or antivirus and you receive a warning before entering any page, follow it. There may be cases where these programs go wrong, but this rarely happens. Therefore, if your program tells you that you should not visit a certain site, do not do it. Nothing to turn off the antivirus to enter, however interesting the content may seem to you. You will most likely end up regretting it.
If you're not using it, cover the laptop's camera
The famous photo of Matt Zuckerberg in which the camera of his laptop was covered by a sticker went around the world at the time. It certainly may sound a bit paranoid, it's true, but isn't that a possible threat? A Trojan can perfectly connect the camera of our computer , and record us in our privacy.
The real odds may be slim, especially if we are not a celebrity, however, it costs nothing to bury that doubt . We will not harm the terminal, and basically, the use we give to the laptop's camera is zero or very limited. Today videoconferencing via mobile is much more common. In any case, we can lift the sticker to use the camera and then use it again. Then don't say we didn't warn you.
Following all these tips and being always alert, surfing the net will be a boat trip. Dangers to our security are spread throughout the network in the form of small threats, small traces, or unreliable downloads . We must put a pinch of mistrust in our lives as Internet users, and thus we will reach the end of the day satisfied and confident.