Recommendations for securely browsing the Internet

• Virus, hoaxes or illicit use of persona data are some of the main threats online.
• In order to browse the Internet and stay out of harm's way, follow these recommendations and keep your personal data protected.

In marine navigation, hazards come in the form of waves, currents, weather conditions, certain animal species and so on. On the internet, the risks come from viruses, hoaxes or the illicit use of personal data for malicious purposes, among many other threats. In order to browse the Internet and stay out of harm's way, you should follow a few recommendations.

A web browser is an application or computer program that can be used to view and explore websites. Although there are many browsers on the market, some of the most common and best rated ones are Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari and Firefox. And one of the first tips for secure online browsing is to use updated versions of web browsers. A recent version will perform better, provide new functionalities and solve any defects or vulnerabilities. You should also update the operating system (whether it is Windows, Apple, Linux, etc.) and all the applications installed on it.

A great way to ensure peace of mind is to have an antivirus programme that can detect and eliminate computer viruses. Although they do not provide 100% protection, the risks are minimised if the antivirus is kept up to date, since new viruses appear every day.

Another tip would be to browse only known websites. In fact, some web browsers provide an alert of the potential risk of browsing a dangerous site. So, if you see such a warning, you should take heed.

Also, if you are going to leave the computer unattended while logged on, it is important to lock the system with a password until you regain visual control over it. This recommendation is even more vital when using computers in public places or at work. Speaking of passwords, avoid common formulas like 1234 or 0000 that are easy to figure out. It is important to have a robust password with more than eight characters with both lower and upper case letters, as well as numbers and special characters (such as question marks, exclamation marks, mathematical symbols, punctuation marks and so on).

It is also best to use a different password for each type of use: that is, do not use the same password for email, social media, electronic banking, etc. A password manager can be quite useful, as it can securely store passwords, because it is not wise to just rely on memory.

Running a programme may result in the installation of malicious code on the computer. You should cancel the execution of any programme you have not requested yourself. In fact, if you are not sure of the origin of something, you should not download it or you should first verify it.

Also bear in mind that you might encounter hoaxes when browsing. In plain language, this means that electronic messages can arise which contain fake news or frauds that aim to persuade a user to make a financial contribution.

Nor should you forget to treat your personal data with the utmost care. Sometimes people are not aware of how they are exposing such data and making them accessible to others, leaving them vulnerable to malicious or illicit use by other users.

And one of the first tips for secure online browsing is to use updated versions of web browsers