How to stay safe as internet security threats increase

As the internet has grown in popularity so, unfortunately, has the presence of security threats. Considering that the vast majority of us now engage in some sort of online activity on a regular basis, the need for protection against these threats is more vital than ever.

According to recent figures from an investigation by Google, as many as 9,500 new malicious sites are detected each day. The figures were obtained as part of the Safe Browsing Initiative which also revealed that between twelve and fourteen million daily searches will list at least one hacked site in their results. This means that even something as simple and routine as conducting an online search can expose you to threats – putting the vast majority of web browsers at risk.

What are the threats?

Internet threats come in many forms, from viruses and phishing scams to malware and computer hacker programmes. Many of these threats are designed to be undetectable making it extremely difficult to identify potential dangers.

Phishing sites, which are websites that pose as legitimate pages and organisations in order to obtain your personal information, are designed to resemble online banks, online retailers and various other web pages.

According to research, many of these sites are only visible online for periods as short as an hour. This helps them to avoid detection and makes it difficult for everyday internet users to address the problems which they pose. Investing in antivirus software and other security packages is therefore essential.

These programmes will alert you to any potential dangers posed when surfing the internet by flagging up websites which they fear may not be secure or legitimate. The programmes can also scan links and attachments preventing you from clicking on a potential risk.

How can I stay safe?

Naturally, protecting yourself from these threats isn’t just about investing in the necessary software – although that is a large part of it. Ensure that you adopt safe surfing practices when accessing the internet on any device.

Always make sure that you check the website address of a page before you visit and try to avoid clicking on links located on other sites or imbedded within emails. Whilst these may appear to come from legitimate sites which you trust they could, in fact, originate from other sources, putting you at increased risk.

You should also avoid using keyboard shortcuts where possible. While this may be a quicker way to navigate around the internet there are specialist viruses, known as keylogger viruses, which record every keystroke that you make. This information can then be used to work out your login details for specific sites; so the less you use your keyboard the better.

When investing in internet security it is important to cover all internet capable devices. This means obtaining mobile antivirus and protection for your phone or tablet as well as purchasing security packages for your desktop PC or laptop.

Kaspersky antivirus software is a great example of a product that offers world-class protection against threats across all platforms. By investing in rigorous internet security you’ll ensure that surfing the web remains problem-free.