Cyber safety tips for women

 

We often use the internet for research or as means of communication or entertainment. In order to ensure we remain safe while surfing the internet, it is important to discuss openly the best practices for surfing the internet.Few best practices are delineated hereinbelow:-

1. One should refrain from publishing personal sensitive information on any social media or otherwise;
2. Content which is private should be secured using complex passwords,
3. Printers, wifi, webcams and computers, should be shut down and not kept continuously open when not in use. Wifi should always be protected by a secure password
4. Do not access the links to which an email can direct you and then ask you for personal information;
5. While using net banking do not adopt google search or other search and instead typing the correct address of your bank yourself in the address bar;
6. Before online shopping check if the site address shows it is https or carries an image of a lock;
7. Keep complex Passwords and change them regularly. Use a two step OTP verification process to access your e-mail accounts.
8. Install anti spyware and antivirus and keep them updated.
9. Refrain from answering calls from strangers, visiting popup windows or unwarranted verification message that may ask you to confirm your personal information.
10. While downloading plug ins to any software, screen it prior to downloading using an antivirus.
11. Maintain complete backup of your system/mobile data periodically
12. Avoid checking your email accounts at cyber café, and remember to sign off from your online account when you no longer want to access an account.
13. Register for Mobile SMS, Email Transaction Alerts if one pays online or uses netbanking.
14. Visit banks website by typing the URL in the address bar.otherwise it could be a fake website in a search result
15. Make use of the virtual keyboard wherever possible for better security
16. If you change a mobile number, inform the bank. If you lose your phone, don’t forget to deactivate all banking services linked to that number.
17. Avoid exchanging old mobile phones with new ones as data within it can be misused to harass the phone owner or others and commit other crimes including phishing.
18. Donot leave your mobile phone/laptop unattended or without a password protection with anyone.
19. Deactivate a web service such as Whatsapp on your old phone before you activate it on your new cellphone.