Insider Tips to Improve Your Online Safety and Security

Technology has become an integral part of our lives, it's crucial to keep ourselves safe and secure while using it.

While some security measures are well-known, others may not be as obvious. In this article, we share some insider tips that only tech pros know to help you protect yourself online.

Check for Secret Copies of Your Emails: Email security is a critical aspect of personal and business communication. Unfortunately, cybercriminals can gain access to your email account and copy your messages. To stay safe, regularly check your email's login activity or history to ensure that there are no unauthorized devices or logins. If you notice any suspicious activity, change your password immediately and log out of all devices from your account.

Don't Overlook Printer Security: Printers are often overlooked as a security risk, but they can be just as vulnerable as computers. Hackers can access sensitive information, such as financial records, through a printer. If you notice any unusual activity, like your printer printing blank pages or changing settings, unplug it and reset it to prevent hackers from accessing your data.

Disable Hidden Location Tracking on Your iPhone: Apple's Significant Locations feature is designed to personalize services and learn significant locations. However, if you don't want your iPhone to track your whereabouts, disable this feature by going to your iPhone's settings, Privacy & Security, and Location Services. This will ensure that your location data is not being stored or accessed by any unauthorized parties.

Protect Your Information if You Lose Your Phone: Losing your phone can be a nightmare, but you can take steps to protect your information even if you never get it back. For example, you can remotely erase your iPhone or Android phone by going to the respective websites and selecting the "Erase" option. This will ensure that any sensitive data on your phone is deleted and cannot be accessed by cybercriminals.

Review App Permissions on Your Phone: Apps are always seeking access to your personal information and contacts, which can potentially lead to a breach of privacy. Therefore, it's essential to review which apps have access to your phone's contacts and turn off access when not needed. Only download apps from reputable app stores, and avoid downloading apps from unknown sources to ensure that your data is safe and secure.

Use a Password Manager: One of the most challenging aspects of digital security is creating and remembering complex passwords for each of our online accounts. A password manager can help you generate and store strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts in one secure location.

Avoid Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but it can also be a hotspot for cybercriminals looking to intercept your data. Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks when possible, and use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when you must connect to public Wi-Fi.

Secure Your Social Media Accounts: Social media platforms are a goldmine of personal information, and cybercriminals often use this information to launch targeted attacks. Make sure to enable two-factor authentication on all of your social media accounts and review your privacy settings to limit the amount of personal information visible to others.

Be Mindful of Phishing Scams: Phishing scams are a prevalent tactic used by cybercriminals to trick you into revealing your personal information. Be cautious of emails or messages that ask for your personal information, and don't click on any links or download any attachments from unknown sources. Always check the URL of any website that you're asked to visit to ensure that it's legitimate.

Use Biometric Authentication: Biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, is a secure and convenient way to unlock your device and access your accounts. Enable biometric authentication on your devices, and avoid using easily guessable passwords or patterns.

In conclusion, taking these insider tips into account can significantly improve your online safety and security.