Living through the past few years has seemed a bit surreal for most people. We've heard about numerous data breaches, data leaks, data exposures, and data compromises throughout this time. Whether it's a pipeline being taken down by some ransomware or an entire telecommunications company being consumed by a breach, the very real threat of having your privacy compromised continues to be a concern in 2023. If you do anything at all online, there's always the possibility of becoming a victim of an attack. It can be phishing, social engineering, malware, or pretty much any other vector. To avoid this, you must find ways to reinforce your privacy and protect your security / data while you're online. In this article, we'll offer five suggestions that can help you.

Use A VPN

Something you've likely heard about that you may not realize is super easy to use is a virtual private network. Virtual private networks, otherwise known as vpns, are popular. And they're popular for a reason: they're a great way to stay safe on one and perform more activities without worrying about compromising privacy. You can also encrypt your data as you're working online to create a more secure environment. If you need to use public wi-fi, a secure proxy VPN can create a secure space that wouldn't otherwise be there. VPNs encrypt data as you work and route traffic through different servers around the world. A VPN allows you to stay hidden from your isp, avoid targeted ads, and even access region locked / geo blocked content. Adding them to your overall security package is a great way to stay safe and avoid the pitfalls of the modern internet.

Use A Firewall

A firewall should be one of the first things you set up when you get a new computer or start using a new operating system. Firewalls are an absolute necessity because they offer passive protection when you're online. Firewall scans incoming traffic and can prevent malicious code from getting through. If firewalls determine that data represents a security risk, it can prevent it from becoming an intrusion which ultimately protects you as the end user. These protective filters stop attackers from exploiting back doors, performing distributed denial of service attacks, using macros within applications on your computer, or worse. They work best when used in conjunction with other security methods and must be set up properly (secured, properly architected zones, configuration, and control lists) in order to be effective.

Use Security Software

Using security software should go without saying is part of your online experience. Yet so many people refuse to install even basic security procedures. Malware and viruses can spread quickly throughout the system and cause problems. Moreover, new malware comes out every single day. That means it's difficult to keep up with it and software must be able to handle automatic updates to ensure he can prevent these problems. Using a strong antivirus program or security software system can help you stay on top of these things and improve your cybersecurity. Not only do they block malicious websites and identify potential malware threats, they run scans regularly and can help you stay ahead of this constant threat.

Use Encryption

Encrypting your files in data is one of the best ways to stay secure online. Encryption is the conversion of data into code. At its core, it prevents unauthorized access. But more than that, it can only be decrypted with a certain type of key. That makes it much more secure than merely leaving your data to sit on a hard drive unencrypted. As the data travels across the world wide web, it can be exposed to attackers and malicious actors.  Encrypting your data is an essential and simple step to ensure safety as you work online.

Update Everything Regularly

You've undoubtedly heard it time and time again, but it bears repeating: you should always update your software, apps, I'm browsers regularly. Updates are important because they patch vulnerabilities and can prevent software from becoming compromised. Updates also add new features that enhance the quality and usefulness of the program. Developers often work hard to patch out any vulnerabilities in a given program. When programs start to bug out or have security issues, most companies stay on top of that. You should also do your part and stay on top of grabbing those updates when they become available. Sometimes, you can have your security software automatically update your programs to keep them safe. Whatever the case may be, never underestimate the value and importance of regular updates because they can mean the difference between staying safe and falling victim to data theft.