As technology advances, so do the ways we can be victimized online. While there are many things you can do to protect yourself when browsing the internet, here are six tips that will be especially important in 2022. Use these tips to help keep your personal information and your computer protected from malware and other online threats.
Table of Contents
1. Use a VPN.
The first tip on this list, if you want to begin browsing the Internet safely in 2022, is to use a VPN or virtual proxy network. Basically, a VPN acts as a middleman between the connection your computer sends and receives between the sites you visit.
Essentially, instead of your device sending information and requesting access directly, the VPN will do that for you, protecting not only your identity but also any chance that the information might be intercepted.
VPNs have been proven a great tool in recent years, and there are several good reasons to also use a VPN when gaming. VPNs can help improve your connection speed by routing traffic through a server closer to your game server. They can also help improve security by encrypting your traffic and making it more difficult for hackers to intercept your data.
2. Be vigilant about the websites you visit.
The next tip on this list, if you are looking to browse the Internet more safely in 2022, is to be vigilant about the sites you visit. As amazing and convenient as the Internet is, it is not completely safe, and there are many fraudulent websites to be found.
Instead of putting yourself at risk, it would be advised to visit reputable sites. One easy way to determine whether or not a website is secure or trustworthy is if it uses SSL encryption. To tell if a website is using SSL encryption, you need to look at the top left of the URL bar for a locked symbol.
3. Don’t open emails from unknown senders.
One of the most important things you should do if you want to browse the Internet safely and avoid any potential situations would be not to open emails from unknown senders. Not everyone using the Internet has the best intentions, and some people might be trying to get information from you.
More importantly, opening emails from unknown senders is dangerous because they could contain malware or viruses. A great way to combat this, if you open an e-mail from an unknown sender by mistake, would be to have antivirus software that scans files you receive via e-mail.
4. Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
The big mistake many people make when using the Internet is using the same password for every account they register with websites. If you want to use the Internet safely, it is highly suggested that you only use strong passwords, change them regularly, and vary them from site to site.
If you were worried that you might forget all the passwords you create, you could download a password vault. Basically, this application will store the various passwords for websites you have created accounts for and is protected by a password itself.
5. Install antivirus software on your computer and update it regularly.
Of all the things you should do to keep safe while browsing the Internet, one of the most important is installing antivirus software on your computer and ensuring you update it regularly. This is also why not visiting sites that aren’t safe is important because these sites might contain viruses.
When looking for antivirus software, you should read through many reviews since some antivirus software is better at picking up viruses and malware than others. Some software is also famous for finding viruses when there aren’t any.
6. Use common sense.
Finally, the last tip on this list to browse the Internet more safely is to just use common sense. If the website has a strange title, asks you to download software with strange names, or keeps redirecting you, it is time to leave.
If the website doesn’t have SSL encryption, you should also consider leaving. If you receive emails from unknown senders, it is definitely not a good idea to open them, and an even worse idea to download any attachments. In other words, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying the Internet, but you should always be careful.