12 Ways to Protect Your Online Identity and Browse Securely

 

		One of the common fears many people had early on when they began to use the Internet was regarding exactly how secure it is, and this concern tends to continue until this very day. While others brush away the issue of security of personal information without much worry, the facts show that safety of private data online is indeed a real challenge. In fact, statistics reort that identity theft is the biggest white collar crime in the history of the United States. The FTC openly states that, "1 in 6 Americans will be a victim of identity theft this year alone. In the last twelve months 9.93 million people have had some type of identity theft crime committed against them. Victims spend on average $1,200 in out-of-pocket expenses and an average of 175 hours in your efforts to resolve the many problems caused by identity thieves." Those who end up suffering from identity theft can go through years and years before they ever truly recover from such a hardship. Having said this, the Internet can still be a secure place as long as you use it with some guidelines. Here are 12 ways to safely use the Internet with confidence so that you don't have to worry about being the next victim of identity theft. 1) Use strong, optimized passwords for websites. Robust passwords are a crucial form of personal protection as they enable you to perform more secure online transactions. A password's strength lies in it's length and intricacy. The ultimate password is lengthy and is made up of letters, symbols, punctuation marks, and numbers. Whenever you can, make use of at least 14 characters with as much variety as possible. Choose keys on the entire keyboard, not merely the letters and characters you commonly use. Once you've come up with a password that meets this criteria and you're able to remember it, measure it's strength level with a safe online tool such as Microsoft's secret password checker . 2. Mix them up and use mutiple passwords for different websites. Making use of the exact same password on numerous websites is definitely a security risk. Whenever you give your password to another website, you're placing your trust in the hands of that particular website's security, including their staff. If anyone discovers your password for just one site, chances are they'll attempt to utilize it with countless other websites. If your email account is compromised, then all of your passwords for the rest of your online accounts for various websites can easily be reset and taken over. Of course no one enjoys having to deal with memorizing a wide range of complex passwords, but it's much less painful than having your online accounts hacked and becoming a victim of identity theft. One solution to the burden of multiple passwords is to use a trustworthy password manager such as RoboForm which will remember all of your different passwords and only require you to commit one master password to memory. 3. Steer clear of free proxies. Many of these free proxy service sites are a favorite spot for hackers to carry out illegal activities on uninformed people. Several are even owned or operated by hackers themselves who are only pretending to offer free entry to any website on the Internet. Other sites simply lack ample security protection features to prevent abuse due to them not charging any money for their services. 4. Don't use your real name in your usernames unless necessary. When you are using a username exclusively for an e-mail account or your bank website, then it may be acceptable to include a portion of your name. However, using your name isn't suggested when it is not mandatory. Instead of using your name, consider a username that is based on your favorite pastime, food, book, or the like. If you still want to use part of yourname, think about placing a dot or underscore between the two words, such as Pizza.Mike or Running_Steve. Another option is to use a random word creator like WordConstructor.com to create an original username. 5. Change your IP address on a regular basis. Websites and Internet service providers are able to use your IP address to monitor and keep an eye on your usage activity to figure out wherever you've been surfing around. How does it make you feel to know that a company, or even individuals, are able to know everything you do while online? The most effective remedy to this concern is making use of a software, such as the powerful solution from Easy-Hide-IP.com, which can instantly switch your IP address every couple of minutes on auto-pilot. No doubt, this is an outstanding method to browse the Web securely without having to look over your back and wonder who's watching. 6. Clear all traces of your browsing activity. Clearing your temporary Internet files and cookies will help delete the information websites have collected about you and kept on your own computer as small files. Many of these types of files are absolutely safe, yet others save your personal information. Some websites might even permit other websites, such as advertisers and marketers, to put their cookies on your computer as well. For that reason, it's a smart habit to empty your cache and erase your browser cookies on a regular basis. Also look at third-party software, such as CCleaner, to speed up the cleaning process. 7. Keep personal information private, even on social media sites! Facebook and Twitter are two of the most visited websites on the Web these days and the service they provide of staying in touch with others is fantastic, however you should be cautious when sharing certain private information on these services. Privacy organizations are concerned that people are sharing a great deal of information that is both personal and intimate on these services, and as a result they are they are actually putting themselves at serious risk at times. Recently, the website Please Rob Me came in the spotlight for demonstrating exactly how dangerous it is to constantly inform others about your location in public through these websites. 8. Don't volunteer information. Most of the time when you are signing up for a new account on a website, you will see a collection of fields to fill out with your information yet only a handful of them will truly be required in order to complete your registration. The required fields are commonly marked by stars or a specific color as an indication. Look carefully for these indicators next time you register an account, and avoid giving any information that isn't vital. 9. Make up required information that is too personal. Going one step further than the previous tip, if you are registering for an account that you don't even intend to use for a lengthy period of time then think about simply writing phony information in those required fields that you feel the service has no right or necessity to, such as your phone number, age, or address. These types of accounts are commonly referred to as throwaway or disposable accounts. If the website is quite popular then you can try to find login information from a service like BugMeNot so that you don't even have to create an account. 10. Familiarize yourself with your browser's secure connection feature. Whenever you are accessing websites that demand top security like your email service, bank account, or an ecommerce store, your browser will indicate that it is now in a secure mode known as a SSL connection. The indication varies depending on which web browser you are using, however it is usually displayed as a shield or a lock and the first part of the website address will be https. 11. Use superior anti-virus and Internet security software. While it may seem like common sense to some, many people are using the Internet without any anti-virus or Internet security program installed on their computer whatsoever. Make sure that you're surfing safely and not leaving yourself exposed to danger by installing high quality security software. Prior to choosing which security solution to use, consider reading details reviews online at well-known websites like CNET. 12. Maintain overall security for your system. Sometimes the greatest threat to your computer doesn't come from a distant place on the Internet, but rather from immediate access to your computer by a stranger or dishonest person close to you. Make certain that your entire system is secured all round by a master password, and also consider security solutions such as file