How to Keep Files Safe When Surfing the Net

We are immersed in a technology savvy world where most of our lives are consumed by the internet. Most of the population spends hours a day surfing, banking, paying bills, using social sites or even completing tasks for work or school related projects. There are wireless internet connections in almost every fast food establishment, coffee shop and library you can find. Computers used to just be an additional accessory that was optional but now it is a necessary component of our day no matter where we go. With the rapid growth of internet use come the increased chances that our personal information can be compromised. There are some actions that can be taken to make sure that your files and personal information are safe no matter where you surf the web.

Creating Passwords
One of the most effective ways to protect your personal information can be how you choose passwords. It can be tricky to choose a different password for every single site that you visit, but it is unsafe to use the same password on all the sites that you access. The danger in using one password for all the sites is that if someone obtains access to the password they would then be able to access all of the sites.

It is important to find the right balance when setting up passwords. They need to be easy enough for you to remember but too difficult for others to guess. It is unwise to use birthdays, phone numbers, or pet's names as passwords as others may be able to get this information too easily. There are some very useful programs which can help keep track of your passwords if you have difficulty remembering them. When creating a password it is best to use letters, numbers and at least one symbol. This will make it more difficult for someone to guess.

Password the Computer You Use
Another way to protect your personal information is to put a password on the computer. This will mean that you have to enter your password every time you boot up the system. While this can seem like it complicates the process, it can be a great protective measure. If you leave your computer sitting on a table a third party will not be able to gain access to any your computer or any of your documents if they do not know the password. This is a very important tool for those who use computers in a public place.

Choose the Sites You Access
It is so convenient to use one of the public WI-Fi systems. And more facilities are making it available for free which makes it even more tempting to use more frequently. It is important to refrain from accessing sites which use very sensitive or personal information. Banking should be done on your home computer only. Personal files should not be opened up in public places and especially not when using a publicly used computer such as the library.

Virus Protection
There are several very good virus protection programs available for reasonable costs. This is a very important step to protecting all of your personal files and information. Keep the firewall and anti-virus program that you choose to use up to date. This will protect the computer from damaging viruses but it can also protect against hackers. Most of them will also alert you before you go to a site which could be damaging.

These are a few tips to use to help protect your personal information from hackers or loss. If the security of your information is compromised it can not only be damaging but very time consuming trying to get it gathered back up. Always protect yourself and your information by following these simple tips.

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