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When it comes to security, you may take lots of precautions to keep your home safe. From alarm systems to doorbell cameras, there are likely to be a few different methods you use to keep yourself and your home protected. However, the physical security of your home is just one aspect that requires protection. It is also vital to consider your household’s online security.

Cybersecurity is a subject that many people overlook as they don’t believe that they will be targeted by criminals. However, it is not just large organizations that can become victims of hackers. Individuals and small businesses are also prime targets for criminals looking to exploit cybersecurity weaknesses for their own gains. The scale and impact of cyberattacks are underestimated by many people, so the figures can come as a shock. Research shows that a cyberattack happens every 39 seconds and that cyberattacks cost $6 trillion in 2022.

Understanding how to protect yourself and your household from threats to your online security is a must. Here are some tips to help you stay safe online:

Increase Your Password Security

Trying to remember different passwords can be a hassle, but it is far better to make your passwords hard to remember than to leave yourself vulnerable to hackers. Improving your passwords is an excellent way to increase your online protection. Following password creation guidance and using this to improve your own passwords will make it easier for you to protect your personal data. 

In addition to increasing your password strength, it is also a good idea to use the multi-factor authentication function on all websites that allow it. Ensuring that most of your accounts require more than one security verification to access them provides further protection for your sensitive data.

Browse Carefully

As well as increasing your password security, it is also vital to consider your safety when using the internet. Browsing the internet can be an overwhelming experience at times, as you are bombarded with such vast quantities of information. However, it is essential to remain observant and mindful at all times when you are online.

Simple acts such as clicking on a dodgy link or entering your details into a website are easy mistakes to make. But they can be incredibly damaging. Familiarizing yourself with the characteristics of a safe and secure website is a wise idea to stay protected while you surf the web.

It is also a good idea to learn about pop-ups and how to protect yourself from malicious versions of these. Choosing to use an ad blocker is an excellent way to stay protected. Learning about the best safari ad blocker and how you can install it on your device is a helpful way to improve your browsing experience and stay safe. 

You may find it helpful to explain the basics of safe browsing to any younger members of your household that may be using the internet. Pointing out the signs of a safe website, such as the padlock icon on the address bar, https rather than http, and how to look at security certificates for a website is an excellent way to help everyone stay safe.

Stay Updated

Whether it’s your mobile device or your computer, there is no doubt that system updates can be frustrating. If you don’t want to stop using your device, you may be tempted to keep pausing the update so that you can avoid this interruption. However, doing this can create issues. Your system needs to be updated to stay protected. Failing to keep updating your system makes it vulnerable to cybercriminals, as you won’t be using the latest version of the system. This means that as new cyber threats are uncovered, and weaknesses in the security of the system are identified, you could be missing vital security patches needed to fix the issues and protect your device.

Take Care When You Share

One final thing to consider when trying to improve your household’s cybersecurity is the information you share online. It is all too easy to give away too much information online, and you may not even realize you are doing it. From sharing photos of yourself while you are away on vacation, posting images with your child’s school uniform showing their school name, and answering ‘fun’ quizzes that require you to give your first pet’s name, all of these could put your online security at risk. Sharing this sort of information online gives hackers the opportunity to exploit these details for their own gains.