Keeping Up with Internet Safety in 2025
February 6 was Safer Internet Day, so since we publish on the 15th of the month, you might say we’re a little late to the party. But let’s face it, the internet is like Mos Eisley spaceport in the original Star Wars – “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.” And like Obi-Wan continued, “we must be cautious,” so devoting one day for internet safety will never be enough!
Here are some of AesirTech’s tips for a safer internet experience that you can bring to your Virginia business, your personal tech, and beyond.
Use the Force
(and Good Passwords)
A good password is one of the most vital ways to protect yourself online. We’ve written a whole blog about passwords and password hygiene which we recommend reading, but here’s a summary.
Use complex passwords of at least 12 characters, including a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Use upper and lower case letters.
Don’t use the same passwords for multiple sites.
Never use passwords that include easily guessable information like your name, the site name, or the word password.
Change out your passwords every 3 – 6 months.
If you’re told your password was in a data leak, change it immediately and keep an eye on those accounts.
Better still, consider using a recognized password management software such as Keeper. We use it internally and will be happy to help you set up an account and get things secure.
Well, Hello There
Watch Out for Phishing
You know about phishing, right? It’s when you get an email or social media message from a familiar source that asks you to log in or send validating information. Frequent examples include a bank saying there’s a problem with your account and providing a link to log in.
The problem is, the source isn’t real. It’s someone imitating a source to get access to your account information.
Unfortunately, phishing scams have gotten much more sophisticated! And they frequently play on your fear by creating false urgency, so you don’t take the time to notice something is…phishy.
So, when you get an email like that, do the following:
· Take a moment before responding. Do you have a bad feeling about this?
· Look at the sender’s address. (They frequently use addresses that are similar to the real thing, but the actual email isn’t from the real domain name.)
· Go to the company’s official site, but don’t use the link.
· Don’t provide information unless you’re positive it’s a valid person asking. And never share passwords and other identifying information through email.
Intensify the Forward Shields
The Role of Software
Not all internet safety tips are about your behavior. Some involve your equipment and software. We’ll start with software.
Antivirus
Antivirus is one of the key factors in protecting your hardware, software, and data. But it’s not set it and forget. You must keep it up to date, which brings us to our next sub-category.
Update Software
Outdated software is vulnerable software. Keep aware of software back-up and always ensure you’re current on the latest updates.
Back-Up Data
No matter what else you’re doing, back up your most important data. There are no guarantees, and hackers and other agents of the dark side are constantly educating themselves on how best to elude your latest security.
2-Factor Authentication
Even if you’ve not taken advantage of it yet, you’ve probably heard about 2-factor authentication. It’s the perfect way to add an extra layer of internet safety.
2FA is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of relying on only a password to protect your information, you add another way to authenticate. This can be in the form of a code from a text or email, biometric data, or an authenticator app.
No Match for a Blaster at Your Side
Let the Pros Assist with Your Internet Safety
Finally, if all this seems like a lot, you’re in luck because we’ve saved the easiest and most crucial internet safety tip for last. Get a good IT company like AesirTech on your team to take care of all this and more for you! We’ll also keep up with new threats as they arise and look for security holes.
It’s almost like having your own Jedi master, or at least a loyal and protective Wookie.