In a world where we have become so dependent on technology, it is difficult to be completely safe from any threats. Unfortunately, hackers are lurking around every corner trying to get your personal and sensitive information for their own means. To combat this, what you can do is install some security measures that can keep you as safe as possible. But how do you do that? How do you even know how vulnerable your connection is?
It’s quite simple actually. You have a few ways to check the security yourself or otherwise, you could always ask your ISP how secure the internet connection is. Depending on the ISP, the level of security they offer with their services differs and this is why you need to be sure how much more security you could invest in to improve the connection. For now, here are some things to do to check your internet connection’s security.
1. Test your Firewall for Weaknesses
The first and most important factor in security is the firewall. What does the firewall do? For those of you who don’t know, the firewall’s job is to protect all the ports on your computer from unwanted threats and unexpected visitors.
Of course, this is why it is important to regularly check whether the firewall is strong enough and is doing its job. How do you check that though? Well, fortunately, you don’t really need to hire a hacker to do the job or wait for any such sign.
Luckily for you, you have a simpler method for checking this. There are online services such as ShieldsUp! that will check your computer ports for any vulnerabilities. You will be notified right away if there are any problems. Furthermore, if your firewall is not secure enough, you can just look into other options and get one that’s secure enough.
Sometimes, your ISP might offer protection with your internet package in the form of antivirus programs or a firewall. To be sure about this, you should contact your ISP’s customer service team and ask them about the details.
For example, Ziply Fiber offers some level of protection with their internet plans, but to know the extent of it, you should talk to Ziply Fiber Customer Support preferably before subscribing to their internet services. To know more about Ziply’s internet plans and additional perks, check out this link.
2. Test your Antivirus Strength
As we mentioned before, beside firewalls, ISPs might offer you malware or antivirus software. And even if they don’t, you should invest in one nonetheless. What is the use of an antivirus? It makes sure that whatever files you’re downloading do not carry any virus or any other threat. This way, you won’t be worried about any virus slipping into your computer unnoticed. Just to be safe, it is a good idea to also test out the antivirus.
Just as with firewalls, there is a safe way to test out the antivirus too. You need to download an EICAR file. An EICAR file is an antivirus test file that is harmless. However, it is designed in such a way that it would seem like a threat or a virus to the antivirus software. So, you can download the file as it is, or you can download it in a ZIP form to double-check the antivirus as well.
3. Check Your Protocol While Browsing
The best way to tell whether a website is fake or real and secure or not is by looking at the address bar. If the website address begins with HTTPS, it is a safe and secure website that encrypts your data and no one can access it.
Whereas if the address begins with HTTP, it is an unsafe website and anyone can view or access your information. This is especially useful for logging in and out of any website since this information could be stolen and used by hackers.
Some pages show a padlock before the website address in the address bar and that also means that your data is encrypted and out of reach from any hackers. Oftentimes, websites starting with HTTP are fake websites made by hackers to look like the real thing just so they can steal your information. So, be mindful of the protocol when logging in and out and also browsing.
To Make a Long Story Short,
Your online security should not be taken lightly considering that everything you do is somehow connected to the internet. It is important to educate yourself regarding the latest threats and security issues so that we can stay ahead and implement the right measures.
While there is no guarantee that we can be 100% safe from all these threats, we should still do as much as we can. Additionally, we shouldn’t just download any random antivirus software or malware we find on the internet, but we should take the suggestions of professionals.
