The internet may have provided a lot of conveniences, but it also poses many threats. People have complained of hacked e-mail accounts and Facebook pages, and stolen sensitive, private information.

BabaMail suggests “important online security habits” that, while not guaranteed to keep you totally safe, will at least make it difficult for strangers to commit mischief.

When checking e-mail, use the browser’s “incognito” mode. Baba Mail says information on your browsing history, images, videos and text are saved in a “cache” that allows the faster loading of a web page you have visited previously.

‘Incognito’

Using the “incognito” mode, says BabaMail, information about your searching habits is not stored. Every visit to a web site will be the first time, as the site will not “remember” information you want to keep secure.
“Try to carry out all online financial dealings (e.g. credit card purchases) on a secure page (look for the “https” instead of the regular http). This gives you some protection from hackers, but it doesn’t mean the site itself cannot keep your details. Most do so only to confirm your identity.”

Use a passcode on your computer and smartphone.

It may be a bit of a nuisance having a password for your phone, but BabaMail says it is important that only you have access to your devices in case they get lost.

More tips:

“Don’t forget, it’s better to lose just the device than lose the device and the personal information you have stored on it.”

Know what people are saying about you online. A free service called Google Alerts can inform you through your inbox every time something is said about you online. Go to https://www. google.com/alerts.

“Make sure you put quotations around your name so the search engine knows exactly what to look for.” (Example: “James Dean”)

Sign out after each use

Get in the habit of signing out. Remember to log or sign out when you are finished checking your e-mail or social media page to ensure that no one else can enter your account when you leave the site, or that your settings are not saved on the computer for the next user. BabaMail says this is particularly important if you share your computer with others or leave it at work or home.

“There are programs that are safe to use and remember your passwords for you, such as RoboForm.”

Check your privacy settings. Make sure you are not sharing private information by checking the privacy settings of your social media and e-mail accounts. Many sites change their privacy settings regularly. You should know about all the privacy options available so you can apply them when you need it most.

“Make sure to read all options carefully before choosing your desired level of security.”

Use complex passwords. It may not seem possible, but BabaMail says if someone gets hold of your username, “it may be easier than you think to get a hold of your password.”

Most hackers are very good at guessing passwords or have made programs to do that for them.

Make sure that your passwords are different for every site and that they are not too simple. Use a word that has no context to anyone but you (and especially not something that can be found on your social profile), or even a random string of letters and numbers although they are harder to remember.

“A great password is one that is easy to remember but uses unusual characters, for example: ‘iSem0untain’ instead of ‘ice-mountain.’”

Clear browser history. Clean up your browser history each month to make sure no one can see what you see on the web.

“Most browsers have the erase history option in either their privacy or history menus.”
Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., 1204 Makati City; fax 8974793/94; or e-mail [email protected].