Ensure your online security with these tips

In light of the recent Playstation security breach, many people are growing more concerned over the privacy of their online identities. If your information falls into the wrong hands, the results can be damaging. Fortunately, there are a lot of steps you can take to ensure that your online identity is safe.

Use an encrypted connection

Encrypted connections are fairly easy to find on many of the most popular sites including Facebook and Twitter. Sometimes, you need to change the privacy settings in order to gain encrypted access. Once that is done, however, it can make your information far more secure.


You can determine whether or not you have an encrypted connection merely by checking the URL. If it begins with “https” instead of “http” you have an encrypted connection. If it does not, you can try to change the settings, although it is possible that that specific site does not allow for encrypted connections.


Use strong passwords

Strong passwords are unbelievably easy to create and can make a great difference in online security. Using a combination of numbers, symbols, spaces and upper- and lowercase letters can help to create a strong password. If you can’t see yourself using a ton of different characters, at least be sure to use a password that can’t easily be guessed.


Also, you'll want to use a unique password for each site. If one site is hacked into, your password to that site may become vulnerable. Having the same password for several other sites will make the information stored on those sites vulnerable as well.

Look out for phishing

Phishing is basically when a hacker poses as a reliable company, like a bank, in order to attain sensitive information from people. It is fairly common due to its relative ease, since all the hackers need is your name and email address.


The recent data breach suffered by Epsilon is a perfect example of how phishing can occur. The people that hacked Epsilon’s network immediately gained access to thousands of email addresses and therefore had the opportunity to get sensitive, personal information from people.


These three tips are unbelievably easy to follow through with and instantly increase your online security. If you’d like more information on protecting your online identity, check out this article.