Let’s be honest, surfing the net in the comfort of your home or with the privacy of a small screen feels safe. However, certain sites could be snooping on your online activity by placing digital trackers called “cookies” on your devices. Here’s what happens to your personal details whenever you go online.
Invaluable tips for online safety
Autocomplete password risks
Advertisements and “helpful” suggestions based on your internet browsing habits can be troubling. But what’s even more alarming is that hackers have found another way of tracking you via seemingly harmless autocomplete passwords. Here’s what you need to know.
Biometrics Authentication for Mobile Devices
Having to use passwords constantly can be a pain (and a high security risk) to many of us. Luckily, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox have recently agreed to support biometrics for authentication to make our social media, email, and shopping account logins easier and more secure.
What private browsing can and can’t do
As you surf the web, it’s nearly impossible to keep your internet activity completely private. Certain websites collect personal information for marketing purposes and your browser keeps track of all the websites you visit. But that browsing information can also fall into the wrong hands, which is why you should consider using private browsing if you want to keep your online activities to yourself.
Safe web browsing requires HTTPS
How many times this month have you paid for something online using your credit card? Was each payment page secured by HTTPS? If you’re not 100% certain, you’re a prime target for identity theft. The padlock icon in your web browser’s address bar is immensely important and it requires your attention.
Enlist IT help when installing CPU updates
When it comes to security updates, time is usually of the essence. The longer you wait to install a fix from a vendor, the higher the risk of being compromised. But in the cases of the Meltdown and Spectre flaws, you might be better off waiting until a more reliable patch is released.
Critical browser vulnerabilities discovered
According to security researchers, a bulk of the world’s computer processors have gaping flaws. The flaws, grouped under the term ‘Spectre,’ affect many critical systems including web browsers like Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox. Here’s a quick rundown of these major vulnerabilities and what you can do to secure them.
Beware of what you save in web browsers
Passwords are a double-edged sword. If you make them too simple, they’ll be easy to guess; if you make them too complex, they’ll be impossible to remember. One solution is to create an uncrackable password and save it to your browser. Unfortunately, recent research suggests that tactic could drastically reduce your privacy.
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