With the hackers on the street, how can you be sure? If you think you want to hack my account and steal my data, I could not be more wrong. According to a recent report, the hackers stole over 272 million e-mail accounts and passwords and were ready to negotiate with them, waiting, not for money, but only for a good name in hacker forums. All discrete user could be a target. You too.
Unfortunately, the same password is used by the most people for different accounts, for example, the same password for Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, or online banking. Even a simple brute force attack can store thousands of e-mails credentials and more professional force can do more harm.
So what can you do? Here are some simple things you can do to stay safe from hackers.
1. Do not trust ad-on
A website can say that an add-on is necessary to perform something or other on the page. Do not trust them. Plug-ins are applications that the browser perform specific functions to support can be installed. For example, a plugin will allow IDM to download a video.
All add-ons are not trustworthy. Even your browser will slow down and thus the system. Also, add-ons can insert malware, cookies on your system easily. Malicious software can keep track of all actions on the computer, online and offline, and steal data.
Always install add-ons of trusted developers like Google, Adobe etc. So the next time a website that asks you to install an add-on to your Firefox or on Chrome browser, simply close the tab.
There is no surefire way to deny access to hackers. But even a small thing can make a big difference, the Internet is dark and full of hackers.
2. Do not rely on pop-ups
All pop-ups are advertisements, and all try to draw your attention.
Simply, all sites work with advertisers. And the exchange of user information with advertisers through the web Digital Advertising Alliance marks. And it is not illegal. But then not all advertisers are legitimate.
By Clicking on a pop-up shown on the page, lets bots, malware, trojans installed on your system. None of these things are good for you.
3. Install Ad Blocker
No popups, no advertising anywhere, even on YouTube. It does not sound like a dream? You can have it. Just add a simple browser extension Adblock Plus. Adblocker can remove all the ads, pop-ups, and malicious scripts even from intrusive websites.
There are websites that ask you to disable ad blocker, as the main display is essentially money generate for websites, and they are not asking to make this responsibility from you.
You can disable the ad blockers for trusted sites. However, it would be better to use your own criteria for the site you need to turn it off.
4. Turn off location
The latest version of Microsoft Windows 10has added location tab similar to Android and IOS. In earlier versions of Windows had this default. The feature is useful for sites that require location-based information such as Zomato. Some suspicious websites, ask to share especially your location. Be careful here.
5. Be aware of Spam
Spam also operate similarly to online ads. You receive spam messages based on your surfing habits, Google search etc. This is also legal, as described above.
But some spams emails contains links in them. Something like "XYZ wants to be your friend on Facebook. Click here." This is probably a phishing link, that is, as the real Facebook page will appear but easy to steal your username and password for the hacker.
It is proposed that a spam should be deleted immediately. And you put the filter in your email for any such type of mail they should filter directly in the spam box.
6. Next change passwords regularly
This is the most important. Observe the following steps:
1. If you use a password for multiple accounts, stop that habit.
2. Make a routine to change passwords every three to six months.
3. Create passwords that are written in lower case, in capital letters, numbers and special characters.
4. Stop using easy to guess passwords and passwords based on your birth or your partner or everything about your life, favorite food, or film.
Following these steps will secure you from hackers on the Internet. There is no surefire way to deny access to hackers. But even a small thing can make a huge as the internet is dark and full of hackers.
