The internet is a truly amazing and wondrous thing. From the comfort of your own home, you can work, watch just about anything, read any book, go shopping, and interact with long lost friends.
Although these are significant perks of the internet, there are some downsides. One of them is the potential security risks facing the general population every day.
From fishing attempts to ransomware attacks and malware, there’s always someone out there seeking to steal identity information or financial information and sell it on the dark web.
Protecting yourself from potential cyber crimes is a vital component of staying safe online.
The best way to do that is with a software suite that provides comprehensive Internet Security and helps you keep threats at bay.
Whether you’re renewing your internet security software again or jumping into it for the first time, here are five things to look for in an Internet Security solution today.
Antivirus
A high quality antivirus program is a key component of any security sweep. Viruses, worms, trojans, and other malware are insidious programs that infect computers without warning.
They cause computers to slow down, spy on user activity, log keystrokes, steel data, and can potentially damage the integrity of the hard drive.
Malware changes every day. There’s new types of malware and viruses being discovered all the time.
Keeping your programs updated is a good first step toward reinforcing security, but you need to run an antivirus program regularly.
Plus, your antivirus program must contain updated virus definitions to be effective.
Antivirus is one of the most important parts of any larger Internet Security suite and should be one of the first things to consider when choosing premium security software to suit your needs.
Family Monitoring and Content Filters
If you have kids, then you understand the need to protect them from malicious websites and limit their internet time. Some security programs offer family monitoring and time limits.
These can help create a safer environment for your family and limit their exposure to certain types of content online.
Time limits are a good idea, especially for younger children ( Google even recommends limiting screen time for kids).
With content filters, you can choose what sort of websites they can visit and monitor what they’re doing online.
This can prevent malicious drive-by downloads from occurring if they visit a dangerous website and help you keep tabs on their activities to keep them safe and secure online, which is exactly what the CEO of Aura explained in a podcast for Boston Business Journal.
Password Manager
Most people don’t like to use a different password or a complex password for the various sites and services that they use each day.
After all, it can be difficult to remember a complex password, let alone multiple passwords. A password manager is a fantastic way to keep all your passwords in the same place and secure.
You can build your password database within the manager and keep them locked under a primary password you use for the manager itself.
That way, you only need to remember a single password and can take advantage of the security measures offered by password managers.
To get the most out of your password manager, you must ensure your password is a strong one. Strong passwords are usually 12 to 16 characters or more and contain a number, upper and lowercase letters, and symbols.
Add multi-factor authentication into the equation, and you can further boost your online safety
Secure Financial Transactions
Paying bills online is convenient and easy. So is banking online. Unfortunately, financial institutions and payment credentials are often targeted by thieves and hackers.
That’s why it’s so critical to ensure your accounts are being safeguarded by security software. You can also do some things on your own to ensure the safety of your financial information.
Use two-factor or multi-factor authentication and strong passwords.
Don’t share your credentials with should. And always avoid inputting credit card information over unsecured public networks.
By taking some basic precautions and using antivirus/security software, you can take control of the security of your financial information anytime you’re online.
Identity Monitoring
Going hand in hand with financial transaction security is identity security. Thieves like to target personal information through phishing attempts and malicious websites.
Often, a person might receive an email that appears to be from a legitimate website or institution they use frequently.
They’ll be prompted to click a link inside the email and fill in a form to provide personal information. This information then becomes compromised and stolen.
Sometimes identity information is stolen through cybersecurity breaches or drive-by downloads. With strong security software, you can set content filters to automatically flag potential phishing attempts or spam to prevent accidentally clicking on them.
The software can also alert you to whether or not your information shows up on the dark web or for sale online. That way you can keep your identity safe and enjoy better security while working online.