The Best Ways to Browse Online Safely

Internet, Online Security, Ophtek, Security, Security Threats, , ,
03
Dec 2019

Browsing online is a part of almost everyone’s daily routine, but the web can be a dangerous place. Therefore, you need to know how to browse online safely.

Malware, ransomware and viruses are just three of the nasty surprises you can find lurking online. These all have the potential to damage your PCs as well as compromising any data contained within them. It’s an unpredictable landscape, but one that can be navigated safely if you know what you are doing.

And we want to keep you safe. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best ways to browse online safely:

  • Use a Secure Browser: To browse the internet you need to use an internet browser. And this browser needs to be secure. The most common browsers to be found in use on PCs are Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer. The good news is that all three are relatively secure. But this security can be tightened further by changing the browser’s safety parameters. So, to make things that little bit securer, turn off any autofill options (to avoid personal data being stolen) and turn cookies off (to enhance your privacy). 
  • Browse with a VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) is a sure fire method of maximizing your privacy online. A VPN will encrypt your data and conceal your location to make sure your privacy is maintained. This method of protection is most useful when you are browsing online through the use of public WiFi. Notoriously unsafe, public WiFi opens your connection up to numerous vulnerabilities. But, with a VPN in place, you can rest assured that you’re as safe as possible. We recommend Private Internet Access as a VPN service.
  • Always Check for HTTPS: The best site to browse safely is a secure site. But how you do you know if a site is secure? Well, the answer can easily be found in the address bar of your browser. A site’s security can instantly be assessed by checking to see if the URL starts with HTTPS or if there’s a padlock icon. If this is present then it means that any data sent to this site is private and secure. Otherwise, you should avoid submitting any data. 
  • Download from Trusted Sources: There are countless malicious websites online which have the potential to cause great damage. Visiting these websites is a dangerous step in itself, but downloading from them is a major mistake. A good rule of thumb for browsing online is that you should only ever download from a trusted source. And, if you’re even just 1% unsure, you should always get an IT professional to verify any potential downloads. 
  • Change Your Passwords Regularly: Passwords for online services are one of the best ways to enhance your security. But you need to change these regularly. A password which is frequently changed minimizes the risk of it being cracked or hacked. Ideally your passwords should be changed every 28 days to keep you one step ahead of any hackers. 

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Just How Safe is Your Data with Kaspersky?

Data Security, Javascript, Kaspersky, Online Security, Ophtek, , ,
01
Oct 2019

Cyber-security providers should be able to guarantee you one thing: security. However, it appears that Kaspersky isn’t as secure as you would imagine.

It’s fair to say that, with revenue hitting $726 million in 2018, Kaspersky is a major player in the cyber-security world. And it’s this success that has cultivated the high levels of trust placed in their products. Many would say that going without Kaspersky products in the 21st century is a foolhardy move. And they certainly are effective at preventing security breaches when it comes to PCs. But stories are now emerging that your data isn’t necessarily safe when it’s in their hands.

We live in an age where it’s important to stay safe online and, accordingly, many people reading this will be using Kaspersky products. It’s crucial to be aware of any potential data risks, so we’re going to examine this story a little closer.

What’s happening with Kaspersky?

Malicious websites can be a nightmare when it comes to protecting your data. Kaspersky understands this threat and has designed software which can identify whether a website is malicious or not. It achieves this by injecting your internet browser with a Javascript code that evaluates the safety of every website you visit. If the evaluation flags a website as unsafe then Kaspersky will prevent you from visiting it. This is all well and good, but the Javascript code employed has a major flaw.

The code injected into your browser is unique. And it can be read by any website. This means that your online activity can be tracked. For example, if your unique code shows up on ophtek.com and avg.com then online marketers would be able to identify a specific interest of yours: internet security. It’s known as cross site tracking and is a method used to tailor online advertisements that are likely to appeal to those viewing them. While this is nothing new, especially when you consider how cookies are used online, it’s unheard of to hear of a cyber-security provider facilitating this.

Avoiding the Security Risks of Kaspersky

Kaspersky has been keen to reduce the concerns of worried consumers and has advised that any data breaches are highly unlikely. Naturally, this is very easy for a multi-million pound corporation to say and has all the hallmarks of a damage limitation exercises.

What has been more useful is the patch released which removes the unique ID associated with the Javascript code. The cross-site tracking issue should, therefore, be remedied with this patch. However, this updated version will still identify users as using Kaspersky – a valuable piece of information that can easily provide a hacker with an insight into your defenses. The only way to truly protect yourself while working with Kaspersky is to go into the settings and untick the ‘Inject script into web traffic to interact with web pages’

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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