Internet safety will always be an issue, even though the progress has been made since the early days. Operating systems are better at recognizing the problems, as even the latest versions of Windows are less vulnerable than ever before, thanks to built-in firewalls and other forms of basic protection. While this helps, you’ll still need to know three golden rules to stay safe on the internet. Thankfully, they are easy to follow and will make your stay online a pleasant one.
Install antivirus software
There are so many antiviruses available, and most of them are doing a great job. The difference in the quality of virus detection between top software like Avast, Kaspersky, AVG, or Bitdefender is so small that you don’t even have to think about it. Find the one that is easy to use or even better, try their free versions. They are all perfectly functional, and most of the users won’t ever need pro editions. Free versions have a simple interface and are still regularly updated. While some antivirus software in the past was a resource hog, if you have a modern computer with 8GB of RAM or more, you won’t notice any issues. Also, periodically run manuals scan, though be aware that you might get a false positive, for example, if you’ve modified your games. While that can be annoying (sometimes the antivirus will block you from running the game), you need to put those on the exception list, and you won’t be bothered anymore. Antiviruses are not scanning only for know viruses but are also monitoring unusual behavior which might be a false threat.
Protect yourself from malware
Probably every internet user knows what computer viruses are, but when you ask them about malware including spyware and ransomware, they have a hard time explaining it. While antivirus can detect some of these issues, you’ll need antimalware software like Malwarebytes to keep them at bay. Like antivirus apps, Malwarebytes comes in the free and premium version. A free version is our pick, as it will protect you the same way as the paid one… if you are willing to run it manually since it doesn’t work in the background. Premium version is continuously active and gives real-time protection even against the dreaded ransomware.
Have a common sense
Like in every situation in life, if you are not using common sense, no one in the world will be able to protect you. You still have to be careful where you click as some sites will trick into installing malicious software that will cause you nightmares. The problem is commonly associated with adult sites, but lists like those made by MrPornGeek will show you what locations are safe to visit. Unfortunately, nothing in the world can protect you 100 percent of the time, but by following these simple rules, chances that you’ll get into trouble are slim. We didn’t have a single problem in this whole decade, so you shouldn’t too!
