The pleasures and conveniences of the internet are endless. You can chat with distant friends, catch up on your hobbies, and learn about something new. But before you get into the high-octane excitement of all that, you’ll need to fasten your seatbelt by doing a few precursory safety checks. This includes checking your privacy settings, learning how to use a VPN, and knowing the information you should keep close to your chest.
Here are some top tips for seniors looking to protect themselves online.
Update Your Devices Regularly
Nowadays, many apps and devices will update automatically. It is a relief because new security measures are being dreamed up daily.
However, not all devices are proactive, so you must occasionally check them to keep them fresh. This includes things like your Kindle, your iPad, your smartphone, and your computer. Usually, you can find the update setting directly in the device’s settings menu. If you can’t find your updates there, jump on Google for more information.
Double up on Authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is like the deadbolt above the door lock. You might not need it for every door, but a couple of doors definitely need it.
That literally means putting a second or third check on your login. That might be a confirmation email or a code texted to your phone. Your email, social media, and any account you spend with should be under double lock and key.
Use the Privacy Settings
You want to keep your personal details as private as possible when you’re online. This means setting your posts to friends only on Facebook and adding your phone number to the sites you know and trust. It is because, in the event of a data leak, hackers will have no means of harassing you if they only have your email address or your name.
Set Secure Passwords
As hacking technology gets more advanced, passwords must grow to match it. Now people are even using passphrases – a random chain of passwords like “17purplehousemice!”.
But no matter how secure your password is, you shouldn’t use it often. When you use the same password for your email and a small website, that small website could have poor security measures and put your email at risk. So, use complex passwords and many of them. A password manager can help you keep track of all your secure passwords. They can even recommend new passwords for all your accounts.
Don’t Click on Pop-up Ads or Strange Links
Big platforms like Instagram have their fair share of fake storefront adverts and scam links. So, the safest thing is to keep to your site and not click clicks that take you elsewhere – especially if the item or images seem too good to be true. Spoiler alert: it’s because they are.
When you’re on a scammer’s site, they have the upper hand and can lead you to enter your bank details or other personal information. So, the best cure is prevention, which means avoiding clicking links to sites you don’t know.
Backup Your Data
Computers can fail like anything else, and since they contain your photos and documents, you’ll want a fallback. Data backups are copies of your data stored on separate drives or in the cloud. Cloud services like OneDrive and Dropbox will automatically backup any data saved to them. But if you prefer a physical solution, you can buy a USB hard drive and make copies yourself. How often you want to make backups will be up to you, but once a year or every six months is a safe medium.
Watch for Scams
Nowadays, the weakest link in the chain of online security is you. Hacking through firewalls and security protocols is much more taxing than planning a scam. So, what happens is that you’re sent a text or email that grabs your attention. Maybe you’ve won something, or someone needs help, or your package is being sent back. Whatever it is, it’s vague but urgent.
What hackers don’t want you to do is to keep a level head and consider whether the message you’ve just received is valid. So pay closer attention. When you do, you notice the phoney email address, the misspellings, or the unknown phone number. If you’re not sure about the legitimacy of the issue, you can look up phone numbers for scam reports or ask around but never click on the link provided. These links are the hook, and quickly get a hold of your locational data and potentially more.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity incidents are not an everyday occurrence, but they are worth keeping an eye out for. Losing your data or account can be a hassle, and the prevention is usually simple. So long as you think regularly about how you’re using and protecting your data, you’ve made the most important step to securing your online lifestyle.
Images: Supplied.
This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Digital Next.