Studies have shown that the average person spends over four and a half hours daily on their phone. This includes texting, calling, or simply scrolling aimlessly on social media, reading identical posts repeatedly—we’ve all been there, don’t worry. 

Luckily, the leading software providers in the industry, Android and iOS, are renowned for being incredibly secure and quick to fix any bugs or faults in their service. So, while you’re covered from that angle, unfortunately, cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways to breach websites or your smartphone to extract sensitive data – and staying one step ahead of these shady, callous people is crucial in today’s age. 

Check The Trustworthiness Of The Site Or App You’re Using

Figures show that there are over 1.1 billion websites in the world, but less than 20% of them are actively used. Now, understanding the legitimacy or whether a site is verified can be tricky business. Scammers pride themselves on setting up bogus websites that can often look very similar to the real, verified site but with minor changes. Often, these changes give the game away and show that they’re not who they say they are. 

Other popular websites that require personal and financial information are also popular targets for criminals. The growth of the casino industry since the mid-2000s has been one of the most evident success stories for online businesses looking to use the platform to broadcast their services to a broader digital audience. If we’re talking strictly about casino and casino gaming sites, such as poker gaming platforms, there is a cluster of components with which to familiarize yourself. 

The rise of cryptocurrency casino providers that champion cryptocurrency payments for poker players has highlighted why the blockchain has become such an intriguing new part of the wider iGaming industry and a popular payment method for online poker players. Not only does the blockchain ensure that all transactions are recorded, but the cryptography implemented into the design means that no transactions can be altered and removes the need for a bank to oversee it. 

From a technical standpoint, many believe it is equal, if not superior, to traditional gambling platforms. Now, the best online poker website doesn’t just focus on one type of cryptocurrency casino payment method; it’ll have a range of Bitcoin and altcoins, such as Ethereum, Litecoin, and USDT – which give cryptocurrency casino gamers and poker players options to utilize other digital assets when they sit down to play a game of poker and place their wager.

Tools, Software & Technology To Protect Yourself Online

Cybersecurity and cybersecurity news remain hot topics in the fight against rogue elements in the shadows online. Some of the most popular and easy-to-implement tools millions use daily include VPN (Virtual Private Networks) and web blocker extensions, which block any attempt from a shady site to send malicious links or malware attacks. 

These extensions also help hide adverts, which can sometimes be used trojan-style to gain access to your computer, laptop, or smartphone. So, it’s just one additional layer that people use to help protect themselves and other tools such as anti-virus software. 

VPNs are a different entity entirely. They protect you from people tracking your browsing activity and stop hackers from building a digital footprint of your online activity, a common technique they use. Virtual Private Networks mask your activity, even if you connect to a public network.

You can set up a virtual location, which helps add another layer and keep prying eyes off your sensitive information. Over the last five years, online privacy has become a much bigger topic, with many technology companies developing ideas to help you protect yourself online and understand how companies harvest some of your information. 

Oversharing On Social Media

A growing trend amongst hackers and cybercriminals is to scour somebody’s social media profile for clues that could help them guess their passwords or find out sensitive information, such as who they bank with, their date of birth, pet names, where they live, etc. 

While some people find oversharing cathartic, this can unfortunately play into the hands of cybercriminals, depending on what you’re posting and how identifiable it is. 

People who use these fishing techniques will use fake social media profiles to add you as a friend or seek out public Instagram or Twitter profiles to obtain as much information as possible. Finding this balance can be challenging, especially if you have to have a public profile as part of your work, whether on LinkedIn or in a public-facing role. 

However, being aware of what to share and what not to share, hiding important bits of information such as your date of birth from your profile, or ensuring you only have a small group of close-knit friends that you can trust on your private profile can be ways to combat this type of malicious, targeted activity. 

Conclusion

Combining software with a proven track record of stopping criminals, such as VPNs, anti-virus software, and web blocker extensions, should be the first port of call. It is equally important to know how to keep your information secure, too – and if you approach this with all of this in mind, you give yourself the best chance of keeping your information safe online and your browsing as secure as possible.