Remember the good old days when the internet was being touted as the gateway to a modern utopia? Suffice it to say, things didn’t exactly turn out the way we imagined they would back in the 1990s. While cyber technology is still mindblowing in terms of both potential and execution, the internet is also a place where one is susceptible to hacking, scamming, phishing, tracking, thievery, and an ever-evolving assortment of other cyber crimes.
The best way to avoid such problems is to be aware of them in the first place. Scratch that—the very best way is to use an effortless cybersecurity bundle such as Surfshark One, but we’ll get there in a moment. In the meantime, here are five ridiculous online mistakes that threaten your digital security and data integrity. Most Americans are guilty of at least one, if not all of them. Are you?
The 5 Online Mistakes Most Americans Make
1. Not Using an Ad Blocker
Failing to use an ad blocker can expose you to malicious ads (malvertising), which can lead to malware infections, phishing attempts, or unwanted tracking. Criminals like to say that a sucker is born every minute—don’t be that sucker!
2. Using Public Wi-Fi Without Protection
“What’s the Wi-Fi password?” is a question we’ve all asked when visiting a coffee shop or staying at a hotel, but it’s not as harmless as it may appear. By utilizing unsecured public Wi-Fi networks without a VPN, you expose your data to interception and allow others to access sensitive information.
3. Using Real Email and Personal Information Carelessly
Using your real email address, full name, home address, or other personal details indiscriminately across various websites and services can lead to privacy risks and targeted attacks. This information can be exploited for identity theft, spam, and phishing.
4. Not Using Antivirus/Anti-Malware Programs
Preventative measures can go a long way when it comes to personal health and a similar rule applies to cyber health. That is to say, skipping antivirus or anti-malware programs increases the risk of infection by malicious software.
5. Failure to Monitor Accounts or Leaked Data
By not regularly monitoring your accounts for suspicious activity, you can delay the detection and response to security breaches. This prevents you from being able to minimise their impact when they do happen.
How to Avoid These Mistakes
Each and every mistake listed above can be avoided by deploying a cybersecurity bundle that includes VPN, Clean Web, Antivirus, Alert, Search, and Alternative ID. Check out Surfshark One for a world-class example of this. Here’s a closer look at its key features and benefits:
Surfshark Clean Web
- Blocks ads, trackers, malware, and phishing attempts so that you can browse safely
Surfshark VPN
- Encrypts your internet activity
- Changes your IP address
- Stops annoying ads and protects against malware
- Protects your data and privacy on public Wi-Fi or networks you don’t trust
Surfshark Alternative ID
- Maintains your email address and keeps your name private
- Minimizes the possibility of getting spam emails
- Prevents your info from the hands of data brokers or other malicious actors
Surfshark Antivirus
- Detects and removes viruses and malware from your devices
- Offers real-time protection
- Prevents ad companies and bots from tracking your online activity
- Allows you to perform full scans or narrow them down to frequently used folders
Surfshark Alert
- Alerts you if your email address appears in breached online databases
- Informs about the security status of your personal identification number
- Checks your password’s vulnerability
- Monitors your credit cards
The Internet may not be the utopia we once envisioned, but it doesn’t have to be a place where you get scammed, tracked, robbed, and hacked, either. Use this link to get 80 per cent off the price of a Surfshark One cybersecurity bundle, plus the first three months are free. And like that, you’re no longer one of the many Americans making costly mistakes on the internet.
