Don't Be a Victim: Simple Steps to Online Safety
I've had my account information compromised on multiple occasions in the past few years. A few of those times even resulted in fraudulent charges on my credit card, forcing me update everything yet again.
Here are some of the steps I've taken to protect myself and some recommended products and guides.
Use A Virtual Private Network
Abbreviated VPN, these anonymize your device's IP number, meaning other people on the network and websites won't be able to track you as easily.
NEVER JOIN A PUBLIC NETWORK WITHOUT A VPN
It's way easier then you think for anyone joined to a network you're connected to, to observe your every move. A VPN will protect you from all the prying eyes trying to capture passwords and other sensitive data you enter while sitting at an airport, restaurant, or even a company network.
A search can easily bring up the pros and cons of different options, but I've found Private Internet Access to be quite affordable and effective for Mac OS and iOS devices.
Get A Password Manager
The first thing hackers do when they get a hold of an email and password is try it on your bank account or other sites with the information they want. It's impossible to have unique and secure passwords across all your sites without a password manager.
There plenty of options out there but I use Last Pass, it helps me by remembering and automatically filling out essential login information. It can generate unique and random passwords for new sites. I love it's ability to change and update passwords for common sites. It even notifies you of security breaches on sites you have accounts for so you know to change your info. It's also free so no excuses!
Know What To Look For
You can't protect yourself from what you don't know.
I had already taken the steps above when I ran across an eye opening book called Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected, Everyone Is Vulnerable and What We Can Do About It. It gives insight to our weaknesses online and how people are taking advantage of them. It also get's into how much worse it could become in the future if unchecked. It may not be a read for everyone but I highly recommend the last chapter on the steps you can take to protect yourself.
I'd love to know what other steps you all take? Any recommendations on VPNs or password managers you've used?
Links
Password Manager LastPass
Book Future Crimes
