Happily, with just a few smart moves, you can dramatically increase your online security.

Pump Up Your Passwords

Weak passwords make you an easy target for cybercriminals. It’s always best to avoid using common passwords such as "password" or "123456". Also, while it’s tempting for the sake of not forgetting, don’t reuse the same passwords across different accounts and ensure these unique passwords are strong ones. This means including a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and a special characters like a “!” or*”.

Is That Site’s Secure?   

Who needs to hit the mall when you can shop online? Still, only ever pay for anything using a secure and trusted payment gateway or credit card processor. Also, never share your credit card details or any sensitive information, such as your ID number, through an unsecured website.

To ensure any site is safe, look for a lock icon next to the website’s URL (it’s website address) as well as an “s” – for secure – in the address itself. As an example, if the URL starts with “http://” it’s not safe. However, if it’s got an “s” in it – https:// - it’s secured, meaning that any data being transferred is encrypted on either end so malicious parties can’t get a look at it.

Watch Your Wi-Fi

You’re in an airport or a restaurant and they’re offering free Wi-Fi. Who could blame you for wanting to log on? But just be aware that public Wi-Fi networks aren’t as secure as private ones, making it much easier for cybercriminals to intercept your data. While there’s nothing wrong with popping onto public networks to catch up with friends or entertain yourself with social media, it’s best you don’t use them for sensitive activities like online banking.

Don’t Download Just Anything  

Tempted to download a bunch of fun-looking, free games advertised by a pop-up ad? Think twice. Any download from an untrusted source could be a trojan horse carrying malware or a virus. (Malware is malicious software that’s designed to steal information from your computer as well as interfere with how it runs, often causing it to slow down or crash.) Instead, rather download your apps from the official source – like the Google Play Store or Mac App Store.

Update Your Web Browser

Are you one of those people who’s always too busy to update their web browser? It’s tempting to click “ask me tomorrow” each time that annoying reminder pops up. Still, remember that running on an outdated version of a web browser means you’re not only missing out on newer, often more convenient features, but you’re also losing out on the latest security measures.

At the end of the day, it’s not too difficult to start browsing the internet with a “safety first” mindset. This way, you can actively protect your computer as well as your wallet.