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The internet can be a treacherous place full of threats to your security and privacy. But practicing safe browsing habits keeps the cybercriminals at bay.

Think Before You Click

Don’t click on links, files, or ads before verifying where they lead. Hover over links to inspect URLs for anything suspicious. Only download necessary files from trusted sources. Blindly clicking links and downloads exposes you to significant risk:

• Emails and messages from unknown senders could link malware or phishing sites. Verify the source first.
• Pop-up ads and offers too good to be true often have malicious links. Don’t click before research.
• Social media posts with odd links could be scammer profiles. Check the account history before clicking.
• Even trusted sites can serve up poisoned ads. Don’t enable flash or click ancillary links.
• Hovers reveal actual destination URLs. Does that shortened link really lead to the claimed site?

Thinking critically about what you click goes a long way in avoiding infection or data theft. When in doubt, don’t click it out!

Browse Anonymously

Enable private browsing modes in browsers to stop tracking cookies and prevent browsing history retention. Anonymous search engines like DuckDuckGo also keep queries private.

Identify Secure Connections

Never enter sensitive info or log in to accounts on HTTP sites. Only use HTTPS secure sites and check for padlock icons. Public WiFi is risky too – use a VPN. Not all websites use encryption. To identify secure sites:

• Check that the URL begins with HTTPS, not just HTTP. The “S” means traffic is encrypted. Force all connections to switch to HTTPS if your browser allows the setting.
• Look for a padlock icon in the browser address bar or security indicator. This verifies an active SSL certificate.
• Inspect certificate details by clicking the lock. Confirm it is issued to the correct site domain.
• Use a browser extension like HTTPS Everywhere to force encryption on supporting sites if your browser does not support it natively.
• Avoid entering any sensitive data or login credentials on HTTP sites lacking encryption.

Only trusting sites that meet these criteria for secure connections will keep your browsing safe from prying eyes.

Update Religiously

Keep browsers, plugins, operating systems and security tools up to date. Sign up for update alerts and schedule regular patches. Outdated software is an invitation for exploits.

Limit Sharing on Social Media

Be stingy about sharing personal info online. Use screen names instead of real ones. Tighten social media privacy settings. The less data available about you, the better. Oversharing on social media poses security and privacy risks:

• Security Questions
  • Sharing personal details online aids hackers in guessing security question answers to access accounts. Keep info like hometowns, first car, elementary school private.
• Travel Safety
  • Criminals can target homes by tracking vacations posted online. Keep trips off social profiles.
• Mental Health
  • Venting struggles online helps scammers deploy emotional phishing tactics and blackmail. Keep details private.

The more data tied to you online, the more vectors criminals have for customized attacks. Limit sharing and lock down social media privacy settings.

Keep Your Personal Information on Lockdown

Browse intelligently and skew paranoid to avoid falling prey to cybercriminals. Subscribe to my newsletter and get tips in your inbox!