Increasing Internet Use and the Importance of Cybersecurity

The world today has essentially turned into a global village. Everything that was once days away is now available to you with a single click or tap on your phone screen. The credit for revolutionizing the way the world works goes to the dawn of the internet era. In 2022, everything from shopping, teaching, learning, making money, and even medicine to a certain extent, has gone online. The World Wide Web is a great place to connect and do so much more, all from the comforts of your home.

 As the use of the internet rises, however, so does the need for security measures online. Your online security is a holy grail that you must abide by at all times. With cryptocurrency and online shopping quickly becoming the new norm, a lot of personal and credit card information is shared on the internet.

Hence, the risk too continues to rise. Cybercriminals are turning shrewder by the day and it is up to us to safeguard our internet presence. Luckily, most internet providers, plans, and speed tiers come with security measures today. For example, almost all Xfinity internet speed plans and the xFi Gateway come with a security suite. This is to keep you safe online.

In this article, we discuss some of the ways in which cybercriminals may attack your network and get access to confidential information. When you know the ways, in which you can be attacked, online safety protocols become much easier to follow.

What Is Internet Security and Why Is It Important?

Internet security is a term coined for the security of things that need to be done online. This can be something as trivial as ordering food through DoorDash or something more sensitive like putting in your credit card info for purchase. Since we spend such a large chunk of our time on the internet on one or more devices, it is imperative to have a system that is secure and keeps you safe online.

Internet security forms a big part of your overall well-being as an individual, family person, and more. If your personal info, credit card info, or other confidential details fall in the wrong hands it can be very dangerous. Credit card fraud and stolen identities are some of the biggest scams that the US faces each year.

What Are the Most Common Security Threats That Haunt Us Online?

Cybersecurity threats are evolving to the point that they are sometimes difficult to identify. However, they do follow some similar patterns that may give you a little insight into how they function. Some of the most common security threats that threaten our online presence include but are not limited to,

1 Malware

Malware is malicious software that once planted in your laptop or phone can compromise your online presence. It can harm your device, corrupt files, and even steal information and password details, in which case it is called spyware. Malware is hard to detect but may come to you in the form of a spam email with dangerous links or documents.

2 Phishing

If you have heard of catfishing, phishing is something very similar. Minus all the romance and drama, phishing attacks are some of the most dangerous attacks you will ever encounter. In this cyberattack, a third party can pretend to solicit sensitive or private information. For instance, they can act as your bank account and get your login details or your credit card info.

3 Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of cyberattack that comes with immediate material gains. A cybercriminal enters through your internet system mostly as a Trojan, and into your computer, and can shut off the system from there. It prevents you from accessing your system and carrying out your activities. Cybercriminals usually need some kind of payoff in order for you to get the vitality of your system back.  Ransomware is usually not such a big problem for most users since it is rare but it does affect organizations and corporations from time to time, resulting in huge losses.

4 Man-in-the-middle attacks

Man-in-the-middle or MITM attacks are a classic example of a Chinese whisper game gone wrong. This threat is basically more often seen on the internet in public networks. In this attack, the cybercriminal inserts himself in between you and your potential communication. They can do this in a variety of ways but usually manipulating the internet hotspots is the easiest one. They can intercept your data, read it and even change it before sending it forward, which can be quite unnerving, to say the least.

5 Botnets

Botnets are essentially a robot-run network of computers that have been compromised. Intentionally infected by malware, these computers carry out automated tasks over the internet without the knowledge or consent of their owners. Once your computer or device becomes part of a botnet network it can generate fake online traffic on websites, email spam content, commit identity thefts, or even run fraudulent schemes

And that is just some of the many internet security threats that continue to plague society today. The attacks continue to get better hence it is just as important for us to continue working on more ways to increase internet safety.

What Can You Do to Stay Safe on the Internet?

Cybercriminals may be getting smarter, but the truth is that there is nothing stopping us too. We can up the security protocols on our network and our devices in a jiffy. It doesn’t take very long but a few simple changes to your settings can make a whole lot of difference. Some internet providers do offer internet security as a part of their residential plans. For instance, most Xfinity internet speed plans do come with a security suite, which could be a worthy investment. A few things that may help you increase your online security independently are given as follows.

1. Use multifactorial authentication when logging in, especially into your banking accounts. Have them send you a code on your phone or something of the sort, so your identity can be confirmed.
2. Have security programs that keep you safe online and have them updated regularly. This keeps your network equipped with the right tools to battle any possible threats
3. Be creative with your passwords; do not follow patterns, and use unique characters. Avoid making passwords from personal info like the date of birth or your favorite cat name, etc.
4. Firewalls usage on your network can make all the difference to your online security. Firewalls are able to block unwanted ads, traffic, and other stuff reaching your network.
5. Use of a Virtual Private Network or VPN can be very helpful especially when you are on an open or public network. Keep all your information exchange secure.

Wrapping Up

In 2022, the internet forms a big deal of everything. It is everywhere and more than half the world runs on the internet alone. With the rise in online security breaches, rogue Wi-Fi networks, and credit card frauds, a good internet security protocol is the need of the hour. And since they keep adapting day after day, so should we. 

There is no telling what or where from the next generation of malware, computer viruses or more shall arise. But, if we try hard enough and follow the correct steps, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from online threats and scams.