Let’s revisit the safety with yet another article coming from the Mayo Fibre Broadband team, which provides a lot more than just outstanding broadband packages but also an insight into how to use them well and stay safe!
Let’s continue then!
Operating system updates are an extremely important part of protecting the data stored on your device. Different versions of operating systems are constantly tested to detect security vulnerabilities that a potential data thief might know about and want to exploit to break into your computer.
With each system update, different types of bugs are fixed, which is very important to make the system more resistant to cyber-attacks. Therefore, it is a very good habit to regularly update your software to eliminate problems caused by known system flaws that are exploited by attackers. By updating to the latest version, you increase the protection of the files and data stored on your device.
Use free WiFi with caution – it is the main source of the biggest threat
Using public, freely accessible internet networks is dangerous as anyone using the same network can easily profile you based on tracking your online activities. An attacker can monitor any traffic passing through a particular router associated with a particular internet network using tools that analyze internet packets.
Approach free WiFi in a public place with caution – it is often unsecured.
To protect yourself from such attacks, when using public access points, it pays to use a VPN, which ensures anonymity and prevents profiling of users of a particular network. However, if you don’t have this option, make sure the sites you use over a public WiFi network are encrypted with an SSL certificate and avoid logging into important accounts such as your bank or mailbox.
Make a habit of logging out of a website when you are no longer using it.
Never forget to log out of your account manually at the end of a session. Automatic disconnection always takes place after a period of time set by the creators – this can be 5 minutes or even 24 hours. Any time interval between leaving the portal and logging out poses a threat to internet attacks. At this point, an attacker can simply take over your account and all data associated with it.
Think about what you share about yourself online
Popular social networks rely on the information users add about their lives. If you’ve used Facebook or Instagram, you’ve no doubt noticed that a lot of personal information circulates on these sites. Remember that what you share publicly on social networks is available to every social network user until you configure your account’s privacy settings.
Be careful about the information from the photos and videos you post. Not only the objects you show, but even the background of your photos convey information about your standard of living, the possessions you own, the layout of the building you live in and so on. If an attacker cleverly uses this seemingly trivial information, it can make it easier for them to commit an actual physical attack in the form of theft of property.
So remember to be careful what you share about yourself on social media. Such sites are used by millions of users who don’t always mean well. Manage your accounts with care and common sense – keep your information safe.
One more thing to consider is what companies could share about the data they retain. Mayo Fibre Broadband makes sure that any data coming from our broadband customers or any customer for that matter, is safe and secure.
Don’t click on suspicious links
Responsible use of social networks and email accounts boils down to the most important online safety rule: don’t click on suspicious links. Often, cyber attacks are carried out by sending a message encouraging the user to click on a particular hyperlink. If you receive such a message, don’t be fooled – if you open the page, malware may be installed on your device, allowing the attacker to spy on your activities, among other things.
Internet security is a topic that every internet user should be aware of. Simple rules for safe internet use allow you to be cautious and prevent cyber attacks. Remember them and try to create good habits while using the internet, and this will pay off by increasing your safety.
