Building the digital fortress: How to stay safe online

The internet is full of different opportunities, but also risky. It is a safe haven for hackers and bad actors lurking to target ignorant and unaware users with scams and phishing attacks. Online scams are rife on the internet, so it is always essential for users to stay alert, especially when they are sharing or storing sensitive information, such as passwords to bank accounts or even private photos. Internet users, thus, need to be smart to avoid falling into traps and access websites without risking their personal data.

To spot these tricksters, users need to be wary of suspicious emails or messages with urgent requests, amazing offers, or scary threats. Double-checking the sender's email address and looking for any typos or strange formatting is a good practice to differentiate fake from genuine senders. They also should avoid clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown sources. The best way to quickly determine that is by hovering the mouse over links to see the real website address before clicking. An antivirus software from a genuine source can help scan email attachments for any potential risk.

Passwords, Social Security numbers, and bank details should be kept safe and only shared when absolutely sure it's the real deal. Most people involved in promoting online scams ask for such details, so users need to be very careful while sharing their sensitive information.

If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Enticing offers are a crucial part of luring innocent internet users into a trap. If a company or a person impersonating as a registered entity is trying to rush someone into making a decision, it is best to take a step back and think it through.

Here are some essential tips for building a digital fortress:

• Be a savvy internet user. Think twice before clicking or sharing information online.
• Create strong, unique passwords for each account and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.
• Keep all software up to date to protect against digital threats.
• Stay informed about the latest scams and share this knowledge with friends and family.