How to protect yourself online

Online security threats are enough to scare anyone from accessing their bank account information and from transmitting any personal information over the internet. Browsing the internet doesn't need to be a scary thing, it should be safe and secure for anyone. If you are worried about your personal information being compromised, here are some tips that may help you stay protected:

• Make the switch from Internet Explorer to Mozilla Firefox. Their online security features are far superior to IE and over 78% percent of IE users are at risk compared to 2% of Mozilla users.
• Install a good online security service that offers monitoring service protection. Anti-virus programs like AVG will screen every web site and let you know if it is safe or if they detect a problem with the site.
• Avoid online shopping from un-secured web sites. If you do shop online, it is actually smarter to use a credit card over a debit card because almost every credit card company offers theft protection and they will help you restore your credit if they suspect your account has been compromised.
• Keep your operating system up to date. The reason why you have so many updates is to keep your system protected. The companies are releasing new software that hackers have not yet seen so they are unable to infiltrate them. By the time they figure them out, the company usually has a new software release.
• Install anti-virus protection that guards against spam, malware, and other harmful things. Similar to your operating system, make sure you update your anti-virus software often as this may be the only way to protect your computer from being compromised.
• Avoid using too many unsecured wireless networks. If you move your laptop around a lot and you are constantly connecting to other wireless networks, you are leaving your computer open to hackers. Malware attacks are common on wireless devices.
• Do not open email from someone you do not know and never download a suspicious attachment. Most email programs have filters that send certain emails to a junk file and most of them will scan your attachments for harmful files.
• Use an online computer back up system to protect yourself in case your information is compromised and your system crashes.
• Have an IT professional check your computer for security leaks. They can help you lock your files to keep them protected from hackers and they also can install software programs that will track any suspicious activity on your computer.
• Change your passwords and PINs often. Using the same password for too many sites will automatically provide a hacker with access to all of your accounts. Change your passwords often and make sure to mix up letters and numbers together.
• Look for web sites that have HTTPS in the address book if you plan to purchase something from their site. This means the site is secured and your information will be kept private and secured from any threats.
• Install firewall protection on your computer to prevent anyone from accessing your system without your permission.
• Use a password to secure your internet connection. This way your neighbors and everyone around you will be unable to connect to your internet account.
• Run daily virus scans to make sure your files are protected. If you have a virus, the software will automatically quarantine it and scan your files to let you know of anything was infected.
• Clear out old cookies and other files from your computer. This will help it run faster and it clears out any of the tracking cookies.