Best Practices for Online Browsing to Avoid Malware

How do you spend your time online? Do you read emails, watch online videos, research, shop, or check your many social media accounts? No matter what activities you engage in online, it is always best to practice safe and smart browsing in order to avoid malware, the most common hazard to your computer. Learning how to identify and avoid suspicious links as well as how to secure your computer are the fundamentals of safe browsing habits. Let’s take a closer look at developing safe browsing habits so you can protect yourself and your computers and devices from malware.

Update Security - Protect your computer by running antivirus and antimalware software that can scan, block, and remove signs of malware on your computer. Keep your operating system updated so that security patches in these updates will make your computer immune to many threats.This is one of the best practices against downloading malware.
Avoid Suspicious Links - Malware often requires being clicked on or opened to download any malicious code. Educate yourself about what suspicious links look like including: ads that warn users that there is something wrong with the computer, ads that claim you have won a prize but you must click to find out what that prize is, pop up windows that lure you to an insecure site, and headlines that are ambiguous or misleading.
Avoid Suspicious Websites - It is easy to get lost in a maze of websites while you are searching for something on the web. Avoid opening websites that are designed to look like other well-known sites, urls that do not have “https” or a security lock on them, and sites that are unfamiliar to you.
Avoid Suspicious Emails - Just as you should not open websites or links that you are not familiar with, the same goes for emails. When malicious emails are opened they can download malware that can cripple your computer. Be wary of emails that: have headings that are misspelled, contain attachments, are from people you don’t know, are from people you do know but are about strange topics, and if the email is requesting personal information.

If you have questions about how to browse the internet safely and avoid malware, call Spectra Networks at 978.219.9752 or visit our website at Spectra Networks. ]]>