Free Wi-Fi networks are secure, right? You can get instant access anywhere, and don’t even wait to get home so you can do your online activities. But there is a problem. Free networks are full of scammers. They usually abuse people and steal their credit card details, empty their bank accounts, steal important data from their computers, access certain accounts, and so on.
We’re going to give you some tips on how to help yourself remain safe while navigating the internet. If you already guessed that this includes using a VPN, then you probably know how popular this service is. For those of you out there who don’t know anything regardless VPN services, or want to know more, keep reading the next article.
What bad things can happen when we’re online?
If you’re among those who never experienced any bad thing on the internet, then you might have in mind that nothing can still happen to you. But you never know how it feels until it happens to you. Those who know what phishing scams or cyber-attacks are can best describe the horrible experience. You might have heard stories about people who were victims of online fraud, cyberbullying, or got trolled online. Most of the time, we don’t pay attention to these incidents because we believe that it can never happen to us. However, the thing is that incidents can happen to all of us.
It might sound scary, but nobody is totally safe on the internet. Each time you go online, you expose yourself to millions of threats you might not even know existed. Here are some common online threats that people experience:
Phishing
Phishing is when you get an email that comes from an unknown source usually containing fake links that lead to malicious websites. When clicking on those links, the person behind will instantly gain access to your sensitive personal data, such as credit card numbers, banking credentials, passwords, and so on. Before you even realize it, they’ll empty your account, leaving you with no money. The bad news is that you’ve been phished. Now you realize that it’s critical to have your back covered because such things don’t forgive anyone. Even the best people have fallen victims to this.
Financial fraud
When you do online shopping, you get the chance to pay by just using your credit card’s number. But there’s an ugly side to this, and it involves your banking credentials and credit card details. They can get compromised and unauthorized transactions can take place from your account. Now you’re a victim of financial fraud. Such a nightmare, isn’t it?
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can happen through electronic technology. Whether it’s through social media, emails, tests, or chats, you know you get cyberbullied when you see lots of pictures, videos, and rumors about you online. It can be very embarrassing and traumatizing for someone to receive mean text messages or see personal photos with them online. Cyberbullying can have a negative impact on someone, especially emotionally.
Identity theft
This is perhaps the worst thing that can happen to you. Just imagine: a hacker or scammer obtains your sensitive information and uses it to blackmail you so he or she can obtain your credit card numbers, claim financial benefits, or apply for loans, all in your name. It’s such a scary thing, right? Well, having your back covered might not sound like a bad idea.
Trolling
Trolling online means damage to your personal reputation. If you look online, you’ll come across many social media accounts made with the intention of trolling other people. They’ll do anything to find you and using the slightest reason, they’ll provoke you to react. Using such accounts will hurt your personal reputation, but will also have a negative impact on you.
Hackers are getting smarter every day. While using the internet, it makes sense to secure yourself, so get a VPN to avoid falling victim to these scams.
How to stay safe online
So, internet habits left a lot of people exposed to scams because of the people they met online. Billions of users access the internet through their mobile phones, and the risks of falling victims are growing rapidly. But the internet safety rules haven’t changed. Hackers are still looking for people’s information, so they can access sensitive data. Unsafe navigating through the internet can lead to even more dangerous threats. And all of these can come from people you have nothing to do with.
To help avoid getting into trouble online, here’s what to do:
- Keep information limited
- Practice safe browsing
- Ensure your internet connection is secure – use a VPN with no-log policy
- Keep your privacy settings on
- Shop online from reliable websites
- Beware of what you post on your social media accounts
- Create strong passwords
- Don’t download apps that look suspicious
- Be cautious in your online social life
- Make sure you keep your antivirus program updated
Users on the internet use VPNs with no-log policies to mask their IP addresses, resend it through another server anywhere in the whole world, and navigate the internet safely. VPNs are great at helping you access the geo-restricted content online. But one main reason why people use VPNs is to surf the internet without leaving any digital “mark”.
Using VPN for online security
A VPN gives you the privacy you need online. It basically creates a private network from a public internet connection, masking your IP address, therefore, your online activities will be untraceable. Already mentioned above, when surfing the internet using an unsecured Wi-Fi connection, you expose your private data and browsing habits. That’s why you need to use a VPN service – it’s a must for anyone who is concerned about their privacy online.
Just think about all the times you’ve been clicking links, checked your bank accounts, or visited websites while you went in a public place, using the free Wi-Fi. You transmitted important information that could be vulnerable to hackers using the same network. The anonymity a VPN gives helps protect your online activities, such as paying bills, sending emails, shopping online, etc. So, a wise way to block your browsing habits from hackers, cybercriminals, and other spies is to use a VPN service.
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