3 ways to protect yourself online

Every 39 seconds there is a cyber attack in the world. At the same time, the number of Internet users is growing day by day, and today their number exceeds 4.66 billion. Everyone who uses the Internet is at risk of becoming a victim of hackers. They can crack your Facebook password, steal money from your card or even encrypt all the information on your computer.

Digital education and cyber hygiene spread more slowly than the Internet. Therefore, the issue of education, teaching the basic skills of safe behavior in cyberspace is extremely important. You must observe certain rules of conduct every day that will protect you, like the rules of traffic on the street.

What do you use the Internet for? Perhaps it keeps you up to date with the latest news. Maybe you use it to shop, play and work. Or for you, it's just a way to connect with family and friends, wherever they are. Using the Internet, we can become a victim of scammers at any moment, so in this article we have identified 3 ways that will allow us to protect ourselves on the Internet. 

1: Use strong and unique passwords for all accounts. If someone has a key to your house, they can come in and take anything valuable from the room. The same goes for passwords and online accounts. Very often we choose passwords that are easy to remember, such as names or dates of birth. But if the password is easy to remember, cybercriminals can easily crack it. If you use the same simple password for multiple accounts, attackers can and will gain access to all of your personal information. To securely store different passwords for different accounts, use a password manager and make sure each account has a strong password of at least 10 characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

2: Don't accept invitations from strangers on social networks. Not everyone you meet online is who they appear to be. Cybercriminals often create fake social media profiles to chat with gullible users and steal their e-wallets, or worse. If a stranger approaches you online and demands that you share personal information, or asks for money, this should alert you. If possible, look up information about the person to determine if they are who they say they are. 

3: Online actions can have real-life consequences. Think of the Internet as a public place, like a town square or sidewalk; anyone can see what you post and tell others about it, whether it's intended for outsiders or not.  Before posting anything online, ask yourself: Do you want your employers, clients and relatives to know this? Even data like your relationship status or home address that may seem innocuous can be used to cause harm if seen by the wrong people.