Online Safety

What is the best way to stay safe online after, say, using your online banking?

Is it a good idea afterwards to run an application such as CCleaner?

is it advisable to Restart before running CCleaner?

 

By definition all online security is out of date, because it is a reactive measure. by that I mean you cant create a fix or detection for something that doesnt exist. Therefore the biggist tool in staying safe online is you an your browsing habits here are my top tips.

1. Protect you email address. Do not have your email address anywhere in the public domain. Scammers have bots that will trawl the net looking for email addresses and they will then spam those addresses with phishing mails to get data. Every so oftern type your email address into google and see where it exists the look to remove it. The password for your email account is probably the most important password you own so make sure it is a good one and make sure it is unique. What do you do if you get locked out of a website? get the site to send an email reminder to your email account. Therefore if someone gets access to your emails they can get access to most of the secure sites you access.

2. NEVER click on links in emails. Always either google the site or if it is one you use regularly use your bookmarks. This helps to protect you from phishing.

3. If you have a smartphone make sure you have a pin code to access it. Smartphones are increasingly being used as a means to gain access to personal information. You have a whole host of contact info plus access to your emails on them so thieves are targetting them for information.

4. Dont engage in file sharing activities. This is guaranteed to get you a good case of VD (Virtual Disease).

5. Only access banking and other similar sites from trusted computers at home. Never use internet cafes or public wireless.

6. Keep your antivirus and anti-spyware up to date and run a regular scheduled check.

If I think of any more I will let you know

 

Thanks very much for the advice.

 

P.S. I forgot to mention in my reply (Post #3) and I suppose I ought to have said in my original post: I realise that cleaning up with applications like CCleaner after using internet banking will not rid me of any potential infections. What I was basically trying to ask is if it is worth cleaning-up temporary and other files that might be created while visiting your internet banking website.

 

I clear all browser files after I'm done as my bank recommends it, they say nothing about temp files but why not, it's easy enough to do.