7 essential online security tips new users need

The internet is essential to our daily lives. We use it for news, information, communication, employment, shopping and handling finances, but the network is under strain.

Over the last few years as people began to work more from home, security risks have increased dramatically, catching many people off-guard. It’s now necessary for every internet user to become vigilant about their online security.

This article will cover seven essential tips online security newbies should always have in mind:

Use strong and secure passwords

One of the most common security mistakes new users make is using weak passwords or the same password they’ve used for years. This leads to many credential stealing attacks, leaving your sensitive information at risk.

You must set strong and secure passwords for your online accounts.

A strong password is long (over 12 characters) and contains several numbers and special characters. You should also avoid using common words, phrases, or dates as your password – and never use the same password twice.

If creating a new password every time you register somewhere is not your favourite part, a password manager is a great tool to help you generate strong passwords and store them securely. Of course, Apple’s Safari browser has a password manager built in.

Enable two-factor authentication

Along with strong passwords, you should also use two-factor authentication (2FA) to maximize your account security. 2FA is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two different types of authentication in order to verify their identity before accessing an online account or system.

With so many breached credentials, 2FA can significantly reduce the chances of someone else accessing your account. Authentication apps are easy to set up and use, and they are slowly becoming the norm in business use. Individuals should also use authentication apps to secure their account.

Apple also has 2FA support built in.

Store your data securely

Data is the new oil. That makes it a viable target for cybercrime. Criminals will do anything to get hold of your data, no matter how insignificant you think it is. That’s why you need to use secure data storage solutions.

One solution is to use cloud storage. Cloud storage has several security advantages:

• Data redundancy: Cloud storage providers typically store your data in multiple locations. This ensures that your files are not lost in the event of a hardware failure or disaster.
• Encryption: Most cloud storage services encrypt your data both in transit and at rest. Your files will always remain from unauthorized access.
• Access controls: Cloud storage services typically provide granular access controls. Users can specify who can access their files and what they can do with them.

Beware of phishing scams

Phishing is a cyber-attack in which hackers attempt to obtain sensitive information by tricking victims into thinking they’re someone else, usually a trusted company or person. These attacks are frequently distributed through email. There’s probably an attempted phishing scam somewhere in your inbox right now. Threat actors target everyone from large enterprises to businesses with phishing emails.

One easy way to recognize a phishing scam is by the tone of voice of the sender. If it’s urgently demanding sensitive information, it’s likely a scam. You should also check the sender’s email and verify its legitimacy.

One way to protect yourself is never to click a link in an email unless you are completely certain it comes from who it claims to emanate from.

Use a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a service that creates a secure and private connection between your device and the internet. When a user connects to a VPN, all data sent and received from their device is encrypted.

The user’s IP address is also hidden and replaced with the IP address of the VPN server. Since websites and other online services will only see the IP address of the VPN server, it will be more difficult to track the user’s online activity.

Use Apple products as they are safer overall

As you may expect, one effective way to improve your online security is to switch to Apple products. While they’re not immune to attacks the company approach has always been security-first. The closed Apple ecosystem is fully controlled by the company. While this could be seen as taking away a little freedom from consumers, it also makes it much easier for Apple to implement security controls and keep their users safe.

Keep software up to date

Those annoying notifications asking you to install the latest update are critical for your online security. Many people assume these updates contain only visual or performance improvements. But this is not the case: Most software updates  carry important security fixes to help protect your devices against newly discovered or common bugs and vulnerabilities. To remain as secure as possible it is important to ensure software updates are installed as they ship, as doing so helps protect your device.

Conclusion

If you’re new to online security concepts, these tips will get you started on learning what you need to know. However, new online security risks emerge constantly. Every user must ensure they are not too far behind on the latest trends so they can take action to protect devices and information.