It is an unfortunate thing that many people don’t realise just how dangerous simple online practices can be to their computer and online security.

Luckily, there are simple steps people can take to protect their personal and financial information online.

Here are three common online activities that many individuals and businesses do that makes them more vulnerable online:

Using public Wi-Fi networks
Even though connecting to public Wi-Fi networks is convenient and can be cost-effective, using them regularly can potentially open up a device to online attacks. The security used for public Wi-Fi networks is generally of a low standard, which makes it easier for online scammers to hack into. Therefore, for those who need to use public network, it may be a good idea to consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs can encrypt data and give users the security of using their own wireless network over a public connection.

Completing online forms
Individuals and businesses need to be just as careful when passing on information to third parties online. Many websites collect information as a requirement of accessing certain things, so before passing out information like email addresses or phone numbers, it is important to make sure that the user knows exactly what the site plans on doing with it.

Using the same password
Even though passwords can be hard to remember, it pays off to use a different password for every service. Having unique or unusual passwords can help ensure that even if someone gains access to one of your accounts, they won’t be able to access any other account using the same credentials.

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