Most people browse the web every day, sometimes for several hours a day! Despite how much we use it, most people don’t know how to stay safe while online – particularly when using their phones. This leaves their personal and financial data vulnerable, as it’s easier than you think to hack into someone’s device and take their data. If you ever feel like you don’t know how to protect yourself online, then read on for our helpful tips for staying safe when browsing the web on your phone.
Make Sure to Update Your Browser
Most people’s attitude to updates is, “Ugh, not another notification; I’ll do it later!” While it’s a pain to sit and wait for an app to update before you can use it, a lot of the time, these updates are implementing security patches that make the app safer. This is often the case with web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, as these are prime targets for hackers to try and gain access to your data. Always ensure your web browser is fully updated before you use it, and never ignore an update if you’re prompted to install one. If you want to check whether or not your browser is updated to the latest version, simply go to your app store, then “Manage Apps,” and here you will see if you have any updates pending. If no updates are pending for your browser, it’s safe to use. Also, choose a safe browser like Wave Browser for better experience.
Don’t Click Dodgy Links
This advice is as salient now as it was in the early days of the internet. Creating fake links to sites is still a highly effective method of phishing, so don’t click on any suspicious links. If you’re looking to go to a site, just type out the address in your browser. If it’s a site you go to often, the browser will often autocomplete the rest of the address for you, so you don’t have to type out the whole thing. You should be particularly careful if you’re browsing from a work phone, as hackers target company devices to try and access sensitive user data. When browsing an unfamiliar site, just take a second to evaluate it before you click anything. Hackers are sneaky in that they’ll try to make their links look as genuine as possible or will even create a convincing “start download” button to place on sites where you download software. Always double-check what you’re about to click, and if you’re downloading software, make sure you’ve downloaded what you were looking for before you try to run it.
Use a VPN
VPNs are fantastic software that helps protect your personal and financial data by creating a secure tunnel directly to the site you’re looking to access. This means that no hacker can gain access to the same connection and view any of the data being transmitted. They also mask your IP address, making it harder for companies and service providers to gather information about your browsing habits. They can even make it look like you’re browsing the internet from another country, which is useful if you’re trying to watch a show on Netflix that’s unavailable in your area or trying to play at an online casino that’s been blocked in your country. For example, if you’re in the UK but want to play at the best casinos in New Zealand, you can either take the 25-hour flight or press a couple of buttons to make it look like you’re in New Zealand. There are some great casinos in New Zealand, with many of them allowing you to deposit and play for as little as $1! They offer a variety of great bonuses and promotions in addition to small deposit limits. There’s also a wide variety of games to choose from, so no matter what game you prefer, you’ll find something to enjoy. The ability to access great casinos like this while remaining safe and secure is what makes a VPN essential for web browsing on your phone.