7 Internet Safety Basics We Often Neglect

1. Complex passwords are really important

It seems that this is obvious to everyone, but statistics show the opposite: in Russia it is still popular The passwords are "a123456", "123456", "ytsuken" and "hello". It’s also not a good idea to use birthdays, pet names, or other personal information that is easily found in the public domain.

A strong password should contain uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. You can come up with code phrases with the substitution of random characters, but these should not be common phrases - such a password can be easily guessed using special programs. Better, something less obvious, for example $obakA4e!verGm0R6 - dog, Thursday, sea.

Ideally, the combination should be unique for each account. To avoid forgetting and getting confused, use password managers. And don’t forget to log out if you use someone else’s device.

2. Private information should be shared carefully, even in private conversations

Do not send passwords, passport data, PIN codes or other confidential information. If such a need arises - for example, you need to send a scan of your passport for work, delete the letter after the interlocutor receives the information.

And you should not share data that should not be publicly available. Even if you have selected all the necessary privacy settings on social networks or send information in a private message. In Russia this year by 10% has grown number of extortions on the Internet. Often the victims are young people between 16 and 30 years old. Criminals get acquainted with them on social networks or instant messengers, lure out personal information, intimate photos and videos and begin to demand money for them.

There are other data, the distribution of which is better limited. For example, don't tag your home or places you frequent in your photos. And also, do not publish pictures with the view from the window, because robbers can also figure out the address from them. It is also better to hide information about children, their hobbies, school, and your immediate plans. A criminal can use it to gain the trust of a child under the guise of a peer.

3. There must be several mailing addresses

There is a box for each purpose. Get one to store confidential information. It can be used to register for State Services, banking applications and payment systems. The second one will be needed for correspondence. And the third is for online shopping and receiving advertising mailings.

This approach will help prevent theft of personal data. Even if criminals hack the email with which you registered on the online store website, they will not gain access to personal information.

4. Before online purchase you need to check the seller

Ideally, it is better to purchase goods on trusted sites, such as large online stores. But some sellers, for example, individual craftsmen and artisans, offer their products through social networks. Before you pay for your purchase, research when the page was created and how often it is updated. If the first post was written literally yesterday, it is possible that you are being offered a non-existent product.

Study customer reviews - if they are similar to each other and contain only praise, you can assume that the seller is deleting criticism. Go to the accounts of the authors of these messages to make sure they are real.

You can also double-check the originality of the content - for example, in Yandex Images. If several stores use the same photo, this is a bad sign. Perhaps the seller does not have the product or it will be different from what is shown in the pictures. Don’t be shy about asking for details - if the entrepreneur has nothing to hide, he will provide them. You can actually check company data at Federal Tax Service website. If you buy a product from a craftsman, it must be registered as self-employed.

5. Before clicking on a link, you need to check it

If an unfamiliar link was sent by a friend, it is possible that he could have been hacked. Contact your friend in another way and find out if he really wrote to you. It is also advisable to double-check the newsletter with promotions and discounts from your favorite online store. Sometimes such letters are sent by scammers using a similar email address. Through it you can get to a phishing site created to intercept personal data.

Do not forget to check the security of the connection - this is indicated by the closed padlock symbol in the address bar. If your connection is not secure, do not enter personal information.

6. For online payments, you should get a separate card or e-wallet

You can put the required amount there right before purchasing. In this case, all your money will not be stolen, even if you go to a phishing site. This card should be used wherever you need to enter a number, expiration date and CVV/CVC code.

In addition, the cards can be connected to the 3D Secure protocol. It is needed for additional client authentication on the Internet. Before purchasing, you will need to enter a short password, which the bank will send via SMS. If your card details get into the hands of fraudsters, they will not be able to carry out the transaction without knowing your password.

7. Antivirus and backup are still relevant

Some viruses can lock up your computer and prevent you from accessing important files. To minimize damage, it is better to copy important information to an independent hard drive from time to time. Also, install an antivirus and update it regularly. The program will protect not only from data loss, but also from other troubles. For example, it will prevent passwords from being intercepted and block entry to a phishing page.