How to browse the internet safely and privately

Currently having access to the internet is something simple on the one hand and necessary on the other. More and more things can be done or are done through the network of networks. But, the internet also hides a lot of dangers and risks. This is why we are going to give you some tips to surf safely online and with privacy.

Browse the internet with privacy and security

The first thing we must bear in mind is that absolute privacy and security on the internet do not exist. Possibly the simple part is to implement measures that provide security and privacy when we browse the internet. At the same time we must be aware that the actions we carry out on the internet are visible to everyone.

Caution with social networks

Today social networks are part of our life, we use them daily to inform ourselves, entertain and communicate. We must be aware that everything we publish on social networks is there forever and accessible to anyone.

One way to gain privacy and security is to avoid posting personal information. Instagram, a popular photography social network, can be the antithesis of security and privacy. Publishing our day to day or when we go on a trip is a big mistake. There is the possibility that groups of thieves can see this information and decide to sneak into our house when we are not there.

Nor should we publish personal data, our next plans and much less photos that can facilitate the geolocation of our home. They are quite common errors that expose our security and our privacy.

Use a browser that offers privacy

The browser may seem like simple software that allows us to access different web pages. But browsers can collect private information from us without our knowledge. Even the cookies that we normally accept without review, collect information about our activity on the network.

Thanks to SCSS study we know which browsers offer the most privacy and which ones the least. The one that offers the least privacy is Microsoft Edge, something that should not be surprising. Firefox and Chrome are somewhere in between. The one that offers the most privacy options is Firefox, although the configuration can be tedious.

According to the study, we know that the browser that respects privacy the most is Brave. This browser offers us what it promises, to browse privately. But it also has the ability to block pop-up windows, something that can be a nuisance.

Additionally we have other browsers such as Tor Browser, which although it is known to be used regularly to connect to the Dark Web, it can also be used daily to surf the internet. If you are looking for something simpler, you have the Ungoogle Chromium, GNU IceCat and Iridium Browser browsers.

Be wary of bank emails

A fairly common phishing technique (credential theft) is based on emails that pretend to be from banks. These emails are usually characterized by long and very strange email addresses. In addition, no bank will ask you to reply to the email with your access codes. In fact, all bank emails usually say "noreply" or "do not reply."

This extends beyond the banks. We can receive similar emails from phone companies, insurance companies and all kinds of companies that we can imagine. What you have to do in these cases is to report the information to the Police and mark the email as Spam, and forget about it.

Nobody gives you money, nobody

It is increasingly common to find ads that promise us great profitability in a very short time. These ads are a clear scam, as they are usually pyramid schemes where getting in is easy and getting out is almost impossible.

Many of these scam attempts have to do with cryptocurrencies. They take advantage of the ignorance that people have with this emerging technology. The best thing is that if you do not know about cryptocurrencies or it is not well understood in what you invest, do not do it.

We are not going to forget about YouTube ads that will help us learn languages, get rich on the internet and the like. These types of posts are often misleading. They usually paint everything very easy, but if it were like that we would all be rich and we would know 10 different languages.

Be very careful with open WiFi networks

We all have a smartphone in our pocket (or bag) and we want to surf without interruption. But this has an important risk and that is not knowing where we connect.

Networks open to the internet are a major security hole that can allow anyone with average computer skills to steal our information. By stealing information we mean access credentials to social networks, bank, etc.

One of the simplest methods is the so-called “Man in the Middle” technique. This technique is based on generating an open WiFi access point. Whoever creates this network monitors the communication and captures all the access credentials. And although it may seem sophisticated, all you need is a router, a laptop and some computer knowledge.

If we are going to connect to open networks, the best is through VPN networks. What they do is encrypt the information that comes out of our terminal to the internet. It is sent to servers, which resolve the request and return it to us also encrypted.

Change passwords periodically

Something that very few users do is change passwords on a regular basis. This fairly simple security measure is rarely taken into account and is very effective. It is recommended between once a month and once every three months.

We must bear in mind that even with double authentication factor we are exposed. We could suffer the theft of the validation token and end up exposed. So a good practice is to change the password regularly, to avoid problems.

Email (again) can be your biggest enemy

Over the past few years we have become familiar with the term ransomware as it appears periodically. This type of attack encrypts the information on a computer to demand a ransom. Plus, it spreads across the local device network at blazing speed. The interesting thing is that Most ransomware that sneak into businesses comes from emails.

The method is very simple. A simple link camouflaged by a text or an attachment is enough to unleash terror. Many click on the links or download the documents thinking that they are not harmful. But then that is when the screen is locked and a ransom is claimed to decrypt the data. And so we have a huge problem.

For this reason, we must be wary of links hidden in text and not download anything from unknown email addresses. If we are not sure, it is better to delete the email or ask the sender for more information.

Always use original software

Formerly Microsoft made you pay to use its operating system. Windows 10 is characterized by being free to use, only appearing a watermark.

Why is it free? Well, because people used it pirate and they weren't updating it periodically. This means huge security gaps that ended up being really high costs. To avoid these problems, with more and more devices connected, Microsoft offers free installation. Although we can pay a license, being able to find very cheap licenses on Amazon and other platforms.

Windows Defender is the best antivirus today and you don't have to pay for it, as a 2019 study indicates. This antivirus is integrated into Windows 10 and we can use it even without paying a license. What more could you want?

Conclusion

Although security and absolute privacy do not exist, we can navigate with enough security. You have to be aware of the content that is uploaded to social networks and where you browse. You do not need large measures, just be aware of the risks that may appear.