How to Increase Your Online Security at Home

Email hacks, identity theft and credit card fraud can all be devastating, and with many of us conducting our lives increasingly online, it’s important to be prepared. The effects of Covid-19 have also meant that many more people are now working from home, so it’s more important than ever to make sure that your online security is up to scratch.

If you’ve never been the victim of a security breach then it’s easy to become complacent, but now is a great time to make sure that your online security is all in order. If you’d like to know more about how to increase your online security at home, read on for our handy guide.

Secure your wi-fi connection

It’s a good idea to change the default name of your wireless network (known as the SSID) so that hackers can’t tell which type of router you have. You’ll also need a strong and unique password, ideally at least 20 characters long and with a mixture of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.

Use a password manager

It might seem like a hassle, but it really is important to choose a unique password for every login you use. If hackers have breached one site, then there’s nothing to stop them trying the same email address and password for something more serious, like your work email or internet banking.

Increase the chances of keeping your data safe by saving each unique password in a secure password manager like LastPass. Many manager programmes also log you in automatically (once you’ve logged into their system), increasing efficiency.

Anti-spam software

Many hackers will try to glean personal details by sending spam mail, but anti-spam software can prevent up to 99% of these phony emails from reaching your inbox. Anti-spam software will drastically reduce (or even eliminate) the number of spam emails you receive, but remember to never click on a link you don’t trust and never give out personal details unless you’re 100% sure the message is from a trusted source.

Clear your cache

Your browser’s cache can hold a worrying amount of personal details, which hackers can then use to identify information like your home address or phone number. It’s a good idea to delete your browser cookies and clear your browser history on a regular basis. Some people do this every day but that’s not strictly necessary. Clearing your history every few weeks should help your browser to run more efficiently and increase your privacy.

If you’re looking to increase your online security, consider the Cloud Anti Spam Services from the experts at MailCleaner. Our hosted services are suitable for small to medium sized businesses, or individuals who have a domain name but do not have a network infrastructure that demands a dedicated filtering server. Our sophisticated cloud programme analyses messages using a variety of filters, to ensure only ‘clean’ messages make it to your inbox. For more information about how we can help protect your domain and increase your online security, give us a call today or visit our website.