Quick Guide to Better Personal and Web Security Online — How to Stay Safe Online

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Security online is very important. It is a very complex topic and there are many individuals and groups working around the clock to make sure internet users are safe.

There are, however, things that we, individual internet users, can do to increase our security online.

In this article, I will highlight a few things everybody using the internet can do to increase their own security and then I will give you a few tips to increase the security if you or your company has a website.

Part I. Personal security online

(1) Use two-factor authentication wherever you can

We tend to think about two-factor authentication for online banking and other very important accounts, but you should enable two-factor authentication for all your online accounts if possible including your social media accounts.

Two-factor authentication requires another device to verify your login in a form of a text message by the code or verification through an additional application or email. Many services make this way of logging in mandatory but if you are using some services that have this functionality optional, make sure you enable it or ask if it can be enabled for you.

Sometimes you can opt-out from two-factor authentication and remember the devices you are using. Only do it for your personal computer or laptop or phone and never if you share the device with somebody else and definitely not in any public places. Don’t do it even in an office if there is somebody else using the same computer as you.

Gmail has a 2-Step Verification process, but you need to enable it yourself and I encourage you to do it as soon as possible.

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(2) Verify authenticated devices and third-party apps

If you log in to different online websites and applications using Gmail, Facebook, Twitter or other social logins, please verify…