10 Ways to Avoid Being Hacked Online

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PUREVPNOnline Security10 Ways to Avoid Being Hacked Online

Going online not only means that we are entering into a world of endless opportunities, comfort or fun. On the contrary, it also means that we are making our life expose to people that we don’t know and people who can harm us.

When you access websites that facilitate online shopping and signup with your information, you become a hot target for data criminals. The criminals lure you into giving your information by making fake websites or fake marketing emails. Websites that are legitimate and are a part of the industry for quite some time can also be easily targeted due to poor security practices in place, resulting in a huge blow on your pocket.

However, there are some easy practices and solutions that can help you learn how to prevent hacking and reinforce your online security:

1. Use a VPN to be anonymous on the web

A VPN (virtual private network) is a private network that protects you against hacking by encrypting all information traveling to and from your computer via the internet. An anonymous VPN masks your IP address and dedicates you another IP of a different location, making it impossible for snoopers, governments, and third-parties to track where your computer is located.

VPN

Furthermore, a VPN grants you the ability to not only prevent hacking but also limitless access to web while being completely anonymous on the web. With the best VPN on your side, you can quickly eliminate the chances of being hacked.

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2. Use the cloud backup wisely

Cloud backup is a blessing, but it can be equally disastrous.Over the recent years, we’ve seen cloud services and accounts being constantly targeted by hackers. Those targeted include accounts of individuals, corporations, and celebrities, resulting in disastrous losses. Do you want to know how to prevent hacking of your cloud service? Yes! Always take back up of your data on an external hard drive and make sure that you don’t leave it connected to the internet.

Cloud Backup

3. Linking two accounts together should be the last resort

Linking accounts together can save you the hassle of logging in again and again on different websites. However, it also gives cyber criminals a clear path to connect the dots.

Linking accounts together

For instance, you’ve linked your Facebook account with your company’s profile. If the company faces a hack, your information could also be hacked. While linking accounts could make your lives easier, it also makes the hackers life easy.

4. Make sure the website is secure when entering private information

Various fake websites dupe you online by claiming to be authentic. You must make sure that the connection with the website is “https://” instead of the typical “http://.” A “https” site is encrypted and secure.

HTTPS

Only share your credit card details with a website that you completely trust.

5. Use ‘Two Factor Authentication’ on your internet accounts

Due to increased hacking attempts on various websites, the concept of two-factor authentication has become common to supplement measures that enhance your online security.

Two Factor Authentication

Enter your username and password, select the two-factor authentication option and update it with your phone number. Now, you will receive a code on your number every time you want to access your internet account. You will have to submit the code to go any further.

‘My Email has been hacked’ is yet another problem that can be prevented with Two factor authentication. It can help you prevent email hacking and make your email secure.

6. Use strong passwords that are tough to reckon

We conveniently use passwords that relate to something usual – making it easier to guess. Surprisingly, Mark Zuckerberg used the password ‘dadada’ on his internet accounts. Pretty secure, right?

Strong Passwords

Use passwords that are alphanumeric and contain capital and lowercase letters, jumbled up numbers, punctuations, etc. The best way to prevent hacking is by using highly complex passwords.

7. Use ad-blockers to stop companies from tracking you online

Another way to know how to prevent hacking or how to avoid hackers is by using ad blockers. The tool has long proved to be something that diminishes chances of corporations who are eagerly tracking you online for their marketing tactics. With the use of an ad-blocker, you can get rid of ads that pop-up on the screen, hence, eliminating the chances of mistakenly clicking an ad that could potentially turn out to be malicious software.

Also, Facebook uses your information for marketing purposes. You can just opt out of the advertising list by going to the ads section and choosing the option “Pair my social actions with ads for” to “No one.”

8. Clear cookies on your browser on a constant basis

Cookies are pieces of data sent from the website that gets stored on your computer while you browse the web. Cookies help a website remember who you are, hence, forming a clear picture of you to push their marketing efforts. However, it is not always use for marketing purposes. A hacker can place malicious cookies in your system to compromise your device or your data.

Delete cookies

Remove cookies by going to settings and then ‘clear browser data,’ choose clear cookies.

9. Don’t download from a suspicious website

While downloading a file can be tempting, you must make sure the file you are downloading is from a reputable site. Some files may contain malicious software that acts as a spyware without you knowing about it.

Suspicious Website

10. Be mindful of the information you share on forums online

We all like to give our opinion on topics and engage in online debates. While doing so in a positive manner is a healthy activity, the other side of giving in your valuable information could allure a potential hacker to stalk you and hack you.

Internet Forums

We hope the above information serves as a useful guide for you to learn how to prevent hacking. Make sure you use the above practices to strengthen your online security and prevent hackers from compromising your data.

author

PureVPN

date

June 20, 2023

time

9 months ago

PureVPN is a leading VPN service provider that excels in providing easy solutions for online privacy and security. With 6000+ servers in 65+ countries, It helps consumers and businesses in keeping their online identity secured.

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