{"id":12745,"date":"2023-02-09T15:19:49","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T14:19:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.recharge.com\/blog?p=12745"},"modified":"2024-12-03T15:34:27","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T14:34:27","slug":"internet-safety-and-privacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.recharge.com\/blog\/en-gb\/ie\/internet-safety-and-privacy","title":{"rendered":"Internet safety and privacy 2023: How to browse safely and avoid scams"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Internet safety is a balancing act between security and ease of use. Nobody wants to jump through too many hoops every time they go online. But we also want to avoid scams, viruses and malware.<\/p>\n

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Take internet safety and privacy seriously<\/h2>\n

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The internet is as rich and varied as the world itself. Yes, it can be informative, fun and rewarding. And it can also be dark and dangerous, so it pays to be cybersmart and take internet safety and privacy seriously. While we often think of online criminals as hackers who attack computers, the reality is that most attacks target people. This was clear during the Covid-19 pandemic. Cyber security specialist Purplesec says cybercrime has gone up 600%<\/a> as criminals took advantage of people\u2019s fears to trick them into clicking on links. Ofcom, the regulator in charge of internet safety in the UK, warned that \u201can increase in screen time has resulted in a significant upward trend in online abuse\u201d. This is why it\u2019s also important to keep kids safe online. Watch what they\u2019re doing, make sure they browse safely and stay alert.<\/p>\n

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Are internet safety and internet privacy the same thing?<\/h3>\n

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Yes and no. There is no such thing as internet safety without internet privacy \u2014 the two go hand in hand. Keeping yourself and your family safe from bad actors on the internet starts with strong privacy and online data protection. It\u2019s not so different to what we do in the real world. Locked doors offer privacy and safety. If they are unlocked or easily picked, we can lose both. You should take the same approach online. Browse safely, pay safely, avoid scams and protect your data.<\/p>\n

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A password manager is one of the simplest steps to improve your internet safety and can even make using the internet easier \u2014 a rare case where security doesn\u2019t mean extra hoops to jump through.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Yahoo
\n2013
\n3 billion records<\/span><\/p>\n

Facebook<\/strong>
\n2019
\n540 million records<\/p>\n

Marriott International<\/strong>
\n2018
\n500 million records<\/p>\n

Microsoft<\/strong>
\n2019
\n250 million records<\/p>\n

Instagram<\/strong>
\n2020
\n200 million records<\/p>\n

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This is why it’s important to use a strong password<\/a> on every website and app. And this is where password managers are helpful. They can remember all your passwords, come up with new ones and safely store other important data such as credit cards, driving licences and anything else you might need to enter online.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Browse safely<\/span><\/h2>\n

Online ads can be so specific that some people think their smartphones are listening to them. Perhaps they are, but it\u2019s more likely that your browser is doing the snooping. <\/span>Big tech companies offer their services for free in return for tracking everything you do online. This helps them charge more for ads.<\/span><\/p>\n

While many people don\u2019t mind this trade-off, you don\u2019t have to give up your internet privacy just to surf the web. <\/span>Google\u2019s Chrome is the most popular web browser for good reasons. It works well for most people and has a bunch of extensions and all the latest features. But some people find it creepy that Google keeps your search history forever<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many other open-source browsers that work just as well, let you browse safely and have stronger online data protection.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Popular browsers for internet privacy<\/span><\/h3>\n
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    Brave<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Brave is a browser that\u2019s focused on internet privacy and can help you browse safely on both mobile and desktop. It blocks ads and trackers by default and comes with a bunch of top privacy features, such as its own private search engine and Tor client. It\u2019s also based on Chrome, so many of the most popular Google extensions will also work on it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Firefox<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      One of the most popular browsers on the web and still a great choice for browsing safely on mobile and desktop. Firefox is actively developed, built on open-source code and can be set up with strong protections. You need to turn off some features for improved internet privacy and install extensions like uBlock Origin to block ads and scripts.<\/span><\/p>\n

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        Safari<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        For Apple users, the default Safari browser is the best of the Big Tech options. The company makes so much money from selling devices that it can afford to offer slightly better internet privacy. Safari limits tracking, stops social media widgets from snooping on you and limits what websites can see about your device.<\/span><\/p>\n

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          DuckDuckGo<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          DuckDuckGo started as a privacy-focused search engine, then launched a mobile browser and is now working on a no-nonsense desktop browser with privacy enabled by default. The company says it\u2019s not a \u201cprivacy browser\u201d but an everyday browsing app that respects your privacy without complicated settings.<\/span><\/p>\n

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          Private browsing isn\u2019t private<\/span><\/h3>\n

          Many people are surprised to find out that private browsing isn\u2019t an internet privacy feature in most browsers. It turns off your search history (kind of) and blocks cookies. Search engines, websites, ads and trackers can still see your IP address, which means that Google and its customers still know what you\u2019re doing.<\/span><\/p>\n

          VPNs are often recommended as a solution, but most VPN companies are even more secretive than Google or your internet provider. Can you trust a company when you don\u2019t even know who owns it? Probably not. The best option is to take control of your own internet privacy. Browse safely with a browser that respects its users and offers real online data protection.<\/span><\/p>\n

          Do you browse safely? Take our quiz to find out.<\/p>\n

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