Safely Surfing the Web: Top Tips for Online Security

If your business has an online presence through a website, social media channels, listings, or in any other capacity, you want to make sure you stay protected from hackers and other online dangers. As digital marketers, the professionals at Thump Local spend much of our time online, which means we have picked up a thing or two about online security and safety. We want to make sure all our clients (and future clients!) can always stay safe in all their digital endeavors. Below are some of our top tips for online security and safety.

4 Simple Online Security and Safety Tips

1. Don’t Use the Same Password Over and Over

Although it’s easier for you to keep track of only one password, it’s also easier for hackers. If one of your passwords becomes compromised, you don’t want to have to worry about all your other accounts that use the same one. Coming up with a variety of passwords that use letters, numbers, and special characters will help protect each of your digital spaces and assets. If you’re worried about remembering all those passwords, there are a variety of password managers out there that will keep track of them for you in a secure way.  

2. Use Two-Factor Authentication

This brings us to our second tip, using two-factor authentication. When it comes to your business, or if you share any personal information anywhere, you can never be too careful. In addition to having a strong password, adding on a two-factor authentication allows that extra level of security to ensure that you are, the one trying to access your account. Two-factor authentication is easy to use–you just get a text message or email with a code to enter after putting in your password and, voila, you’re in.

3. Beware of Spam Messages and Phishing Attempts

You have probably already learned not to click on a link in spam emails, but spammers have gotten craftier over time. It can be harder to spot spam when it disguises itself to look like it’s coming from someone you know. Accounts you know on social media can get hacked and send you messages asking for personal information, also known as phishing, or for you to click on a link, which can give you a virus or make your account susceptible to being hacked. Additionally, people create fake accounts on social media impersonating other people. If a message seems off or uncharacteristic of the person sending it, it’s probably not really them. The best thing to do is alert the person you know and check to make sure they weren’t trying to reach you, then let them know you think they’ve been hacked.

4. Secure Your Website

Your website is like your digital headquarters, so you definitely want to make sure hackers can’t access it. You also want visitors to your website to know their information is safe. There are several ways to protect your website, the simplest of which is installing an SSL certificate. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, and it will ensure that any information entered into your website is encrypted. Encrypted data appears scrambled to any prying eyes, protecting it from anyone looking to use that information for nefarious purposes. It’s especially important to have an SSL certificate if you ask visitors to submit any information or to make payments. You know a website has an SSL certificate if you see an ‘s’ after the ‘http’ in the web address.

Embrace Online Security and Keep Your Digital Presence Safe

At Thump Local, we take online security seriously and make sure all our clients’ accounts and websites stay safe. We’ll install an SSL certificate on your website and stay on top of your social media platforms to protect them from hackers. We partner with you and keep you informed if we should ever notice suspicious activity on one of your digital accounts. If you are looking for a digital marketing team that also cares about online security, we’ve got you covered!