7 Online Habits to Stop Right Now


Filed under: IT Support


Victoria Rausch
Owner, Davik Consulting, Inc.

How secure is your company’s network? The answer to that question depends on not only the security measures you’ve put into place, but also the person accessing that network. No security system is foolproof 100 percent of the time, and a lot of your safety rests upon your own habits. This quick list of risky habits can help you review your own online behavior and give you talking points to share with employees.

Using Adobe’s default settings. Acrobat and Reader are among some of the most frequently exploited programs, and they often come pre-installed on many computers. In order to keep yourself safe, the default settings need to be tweaked to increase security.  If you aren’t sure what to “tweak”, we can help.

Clicking on pop-up ads. These ads are intentionally designed to look tempting, but many of them automatically download malware onto your computer when you click. Ironically, many of these pop-up ads warn you of a problem within your computer and prompt you to download their “fix”.

Clicking on links in emails. Unless you’re certain of the sender’s identity and intent, clicking on links in emails is a great way to get malicious programming installed on your system.

Ignoring update requests. Notifications about software updates can feel annoying, especially when you have other tasks to complete. But until you install updates, your computer remains vulnerable to whatever security issue the developers have discovered. Install those patches right away!

Logging into accounts via a link in an email. Be aware that scammers can send very realistic-looking emails, prompting you to log into a bank account or other online account. But you’re actually entering your password on to a fake site that then captures the information. Never log into important accounts by clicking links in emails. Navigate directly to the site you know instead.

Assuming you’re safe. You installed an anti-malware program, so you assume your computer is fully protected. But if you don’t practice other safe browsing habits, that protection isn’t always guaranteed. Think of these programs as an additional layer of help, but they’re not absolute protection.

Not using a firewall. This is like leaving the front door of your home unlocked, and just hoping no one walks in. Aren’t sure if you even have a firewall? Give us a call at 888-RING-MY-TECH so that we can check your security measures for you, and help you adjust your settings as needed.