Think browsing the internet is just an innocent pastime that should require zero thought or security measures?
That’s not exactly the truth.
You could be making browsing mistakes and getting into bad browsing habits that have an impact on your personal data and security. Tech Security Expert John Earle, president of Protocol 86, says these are the bad browsing habits that are putting your personal data at risk.
Reusing Passwords
We all get it: having to create unique, complex passwords for each and every site or app you use is a monstrous task. There’s just so much to remember. But there is simple no alternative if your goal is to be as secure and safe as possible online.
“When using passwords to access sites users need to acknowledge that there is a chance that password could be compromised,” Earle said. “When you use the same password for each site you are giving threat actors the golden ticket to access your personal information on other sites.”
Earle’s solution? “Use Password Managers for creating and storing individual passwords for accounts,” he said.
Positing Personal/Sensitive Information On Social Media
It’s easy to get carried away on social media and reveal things that you might not ordinarily share with someone you barely know (or know well) in real life. But oversharing certain info can come at a cost. “Every piece of information you share, post or message has the potential to be found and misused,” Earle said. “When using an online platform [it] is best to assume that at any point the information could become public knowledge (passwords, secrets between friends).”
The simple solution: Do not post anything you wouldn’t want everyone to know, Earle stressed.
Not Evaluating Online Platforms
“When you chose to use an online platform, you are entering a partnership and though you expect they will keep your data safe, its your job to do your due diligence,” Earle said. “Think critically — does the platform have the backing for secure practices; you don’t need to have a full investigation, but think if the platform in question should be trusted.
Not Using Multi-Factor Authentication
If you aren’t using multi-factor authentication, anyone can gain access to your most secure accounts without much effort. “MFA is incredibly powerful for securing your identity,” Earle said. “It should be enabled for every platform that supports it, and I would consider not using sites that don’t.”
Breaking these bad browsing habits ASAP to keep your personal data more secure online.
