With the entrance of the internet into the world, many details about our everyday life are shared daily. From social media handles to entering your details on a banking app to even applying for a visa on an embassy’s website. We need to do these things because we receive feedback and reviews from these various establishments.
As long as we are online, we can’t run from online fraudsters who are bent on stealing people’s identities and money. They cook up fraudulent links, websites, phone messages, and calls to achieve their aims. Hoping someone will fall into one of their traps.
A clothing reviews site can be hacked into, and details of people there can be used. We may not be able to do away with them totally, but we can protect ourselves from falling prey to them. Let’s see how.
1. Keep Your Personal Info Personal
Keep all your details safe online. Don’t share it with people you don’t know or even if you do, be careful. Things like account numbers, PIN codes, email passwords, credit card codes should be handled safely at all times.
2. Shop Only On Secure Sites
Shopping online is easy and fun, but it is the perfect place where hackers lurk around. Websites with weak or outdated or no internet security can be hacked, and the details of everyone who used their site can be found.
Don’t use your credit card, give out bank account details, or email passwords on all websites. Shop on only secure websites with the latest internet security software
3. Don’t fall for phishing scams
be wary of pop-up messages telling you to click a link for something free. Phishing scams usually work this way. Or a message from someone you don’t know asking you for money. Don’t give out passwords to anyone over the phone or online who claims to be calling from a company. Even if you have business with the company, call their company line to ensure they are the ones.
4. Keep Computers and Mobile Devices Updated
Regularly update your internet security on your devices. This software protects your devices from viruses and malware, tools that hackers use to access your devices without your knowledge.
5. Use Two-Factor Authentication: this is a strong way of protecting your accounts on social media if someone wants to steal your account. Each social media handle has its unique way of doing this. They send you a code or message on your phone if someone tries to access your account from another device. Two-Factor Authentication is a great method of keeping hackers off your handles
6. Use Strong Passwords
Never use dates of birthdays, anniversaries, or the likes as passwords for any account. A strong password should combine numbers, letters in both lower and upper cases, and characters. The least number of passwords is eight. Making it longer also helps, but ensure it’s something you can remember.
7. Don’t Give Out Your Signature Online
Take extreme caution as to whom you send your signature to online. Hackers can lift signatures off documents online and paste on fraudulent documents carrying your name and signature.
Conclusion
Apart from doing the points mentioned above, the way to ensure you are safe is to constantly review and check your online activities. Online fraud happens daily, and many people fall for it because the scams look real and often catch people off guard.