15 tips to safely browse the Internet
Updated: Aug 26, 2019
Internet is the world's largest storehouse of information and is the first resource most users turn to when they require information about something. Good and bad are two sides of a coin and so are the sites present over the Internet. There are many sites that can harm you and your system. So, here are some tips to safely browse the Internet:-
1. Make sure to look for the https keyword in the beginning of a website's URL. A padlock symbol in the address bar also indicates that the website is secure and safe to browse.
2. Always use a secure web browser. Most web browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox have security settings that should be turned on to inform you about harmful websites and prevent access to them.
3. DO NOT forget to install security certificates for websites that you use frequently. If a security certificate of a website has become outdated, then you may stop accessing the website.
4. Presently, most websites store cookies in your computer. A cookie is a file that stores information about the website that you access and browse. The main purpose of cookie is to allow faster loading of websites but they also contain personal information that can be accessed by malicious websites. Remember to delete cookies from your computer regularly also turn on Settings in the browser that inform you of websites that try to store cookies in your system.
5. Most web browsers store a list of websites and web pages you access in form of 'History'. Delete your browsing history periodically.
6. It is not advisable to save passwords in your computer in text files or elsewhere.
7. Always use different passwords for different services and remember to change them periodically. Try to use passwords that use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols.
8. Use password generators or OTP instead of Auto-Fill feature for entering passwords.
10. Prefer using a virtual keyboard to enter information on financial websites.
11. It is not advisable to open attachments that come in E-Mail from unidentified or suspicious sources.
12. NEVER respond to messages or web pages asking you to enter your personal or sensitive information to let you access to a website.
13. Prefer installing software from trustworthy websites that do not have any history of releasing malware.
14. Never forget to Automatic Update settings ON in your browser to have latest security patches installed.
15. Install and use a good Internet security software. DO NOT use public or shared Wi-Fi connections.