Bad Online Habits That Can Put Your Personal Information At Risk

The average person spends a lot of time online. As you surf the Internet for funny videos or products you want to buy, don’t forget to focus on keeping your personal information safe. The reality is that hackers are constantly devising new ways to collect sensitive information from unsuspecting consumers. Once this information is in the hands of these cyber-criminals, they can use it for nefarious purposes. 

Over 1.4 million consumers in the United States became victims of identity theft in 2021. If you want to keep your sensitive information safe while online, you need to identify the mistakes you are currently making. Here are some bad online habits that might put your personal information at risk and what you can do to fix them. 

Using Unsecured Websites Is a Bad Idea

The Internet is absolutely packed with websites. Some people fail that not all websites are created equally. This is especially true when it comes to the security offered by the various domains online. Using a website that is unsecured can leave the sensitive information you submit extremely vulnerable. Before you enter financial or personal sensitive information, you need to make sure the website in question has an SSL certificate. 

This certificate verifies that the information submitted on the website in question will be encrypted and protected. Failing to check for SSL certificates before using a website can lead to you having your identity stolen. 

Failing To Secure Your Home Wi-Fi Network

When trying to unwind after a stressful day at work, surfing the Internet is a fantastic idea. The average person has a home Wi-Fi connection they use frequently. If your home Wi-Fi network isn’t secure, it is only a matter of time before you become a victim of a ransomware attack or a computer virus. 

The main thing you need to do to secure your home Wi-Fi network is to protect your router with a password. When you purchase a wireless router for your home network, it will come with a very basic username and password combo. If this stock username and password isn’t changed, a hacker can infiltrate your network and wreak havoc. 

Be Wary of Using Public Networks

If you travel a lot, then you are familiar with public Wi-Fi networks. These networks are usually provided at hotels, airports and some fast-food restaurants. While these networks allow you to connect to the Internet, they are also dangerous. Public Wi-Fi networks usually have limited security. A knowledgeable hacker can use these unsecured networks to collect the information users enter online. This is why you need to avoid logging into your bank account while using a public network. If you have to use these public networks, you need to be mindful of what websites you visit. 

If you are currently making the mistakes mentioned in this article, it is time to make a few changes. By correcting these common mistakes, you can significantly reduce the risk of identity theft. 

 

Up Next: Common Vulnerabilities That May Cause Data Breaches