When you’re online, have you ever clicked on a link that seemed a bit strange? Maybe it asked for your password or other private details? You might see these in emails, messages, or even get calls about them. Sometimes they look like they’re from someone you know, like your email provider or bank.
Be careful, this might be a trick called “Phishing”. It’s when bad people online try to act like someone you trust, just to steal your personal info like credit card numbers, passwords or other sensitive data. If they get this info, they can go into your accounts or use your details in wrong ways. They might even try to make you download bad software, known as malware.
Think of the internet like a big city. There are lots of cool places to visit, but there are also some areas where you might get into trouble if you’re not careful. Just like in a city, you need to know the safe spots on the internet and how to avoid the not-so-safe ones.
So, let’s learn about using a safe internet browser, making sure it’s updated, and some more cool tips to help you browse without worries. Let’s dive in.
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IT’s IMPORTANT TO UPDATE YOUR BROWSER
Do you remember a time when you got a pop-up or notification saying your browser needs an update? And maybe you ignored it because you were busy? Well, there’s a super important reason why you should pay attention to those messages.
Ever since we’ve started using the browsers there have been safety problems with them. A first big issue happened in 1995 when some smart folks at the University of California found a problem with how the Netscape browser managed online payments. And guess what? Even today problems in browsers keep popping up.
Browsers are like big puzzle boxes filled with many small pieces. Sometimes a piece isn’t perfect, and that can create a way for bad guys (hackers) to cause trouble. Companies are constantly trying to remove bugs from the browser. This is the cool part that when you update your browser, it’s like you’re fixing or replacing those not-so-perfect pieces.
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USE TEMP MAIL FOR BETTER SECURITY
Ever thought about how many times you’ve shared your email address online? Each time you might be inviting unwanted emails and spam. But there’s a solution for this problem. Instead of using your main email, use temp mail.
Temp mail, or disposable email, is like a short-term mailbox. You can use it when signing up for new sites or services without sharing your real email. This way your main inbox stays clean without all the spam and unwanted messages. After you’re done you can toss the temp email away. Temp mail is perfect when you want to sign up for websites, apps, or online services but don’t want to share your personal details.It is similar to your mail like gmail. You can receive otp, message or any mail to it.
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STRONG PASSWORDS ARE KEY TO BETTER SECURITY
Imagine locking your door but leaving the key hanging outside for anyone to use. That’s what it’s like having a simple password. Picking something like “123456” or even the word “password” is recommended as a big no-no.
Did you know many people use the same password for everything? This can be risky. If someone figures out that one password then they can access everything. But I understand trying to remember different strong passwords for each account can be tough.
Here’s what I do, using Password Managers. These are like digital lockboxes that remember all your passwords for you. You just need one super strong master password to open it. And for extra safety always use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This means even if someone knows your password they’d need another piece of information to get in.
It’s a perfect stress-free way to be safe online. I repeat – use unique, strong passwords and consider a password manager.
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HAVING AN INTERNET SECURITY SUITE MATTERS
Using the internet is like going on a journey. On stormy days we usually don’t go out without umbrellas or raincoats. Right? Similarly when you are browsing online an Internet Security Suite is your umbrella against digital storms.
Most of us have an antivirus on our computers. But pairing it with an Internet Security Suite is just like having a super-charged shield. It helps in different ways:
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Stops you from accidentally getting bad software.
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Keeps away sneaky malware that can mess things up.
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Protects you when bad guys try to crawl in the middle of your online activities. These are called “Man In The Middle” attacks.
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Keeps you away from being tricked by fake websites or messages called phishing.
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Stop nasty software called Trojan Horses coming to your computer. They pretend to be good but can really mess up your computer.