The majority of society cannot function without internet connectivity because social media, food delivery, banking, education, online gaming, and even job are all conducted online.

The good news is that the majority of people now have access to the internet because it is so affordable and widely available. The bad news is that demographics like children, senior folks, and credulous people are also included in the "majority," making them prime targets for con artists because they are the simplest to take advantage of.

Here are six online security methods to increase your online safety if you don't know how to secure yourself online but would like to.

Have you ever questioned whether your account has been or could be compromised? Using the handy web tool haveibeenpwned is one easy way to find out.

This website searches the most popular websites, internet services, and databases to determine whether any data breaches have occurred.

The login information for thousands to millions of personal accounts, possibly including your account, is exposed in many of these breaches.

The website haveibeenpwned is simple to use. You simply click the "pwned?" button after entering your email address or phone number. The website will then display a list of all the accounts you've created using the specified email or phone number. You'll also be able to see if your account is at risk of being compromised or if one has already occurred.

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It might be risky to download any software or files from unauthorized websites. Anyone with malign intent can easily add various types of nasty malware to the files and post them to file-sharing websites for others to download.

Utilizing the online security tool VirusTotal will allow you to quickly determine whether the file you are about to download is secure or not. This website checks online URLs or files and then offers a thorough analysis of whether the file has been updated and what those adjustments actually signify to you.

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Are you trying to find a more sophisticated method of message encryption? You may create, sign, encrypt, and decode messages online with the quick and simple encryption tool known as PGP Tool. You may make sure that your messages are protected even in the event of a session hijacking by adding an additional layer of encryption.

PGP Tool utilizes a private and a public key pair with PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) technology. Private keys are used to decrypt encrypted files that have been encrypted with a public key.

A key pair must be created initially. Using a private and public key pair, you can encrypt and decrypt communications and files.

Once the pair has been created, you should send the recipient's private key (preferably on a different device) before using the public key to encrypt the message. You can send the message to any preferred online messaging provider after it has been encrypted. The message will then be decrypted by the recipient using the private key.

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If you've ever properly examined the URL in your browser, HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) should be included right at the start of the link address. This indicates that the website has an SSL certificate and that all data packets entering and leaving the website are encrypted. When your data is encrypted, hackers will be unable to use stolen data packets since decryption is laborious, if not impossible.

Many websites still do not use HTTPS, despite the fact that prominent websites currently need it. Install the KB SSL Enforcer to ensure that only secure websites are open to you. Every time you access the internet, KB SSL Enforcer, an open-sourced browser extension, establishes secure connections.

Download Google Chrome Extension

Your search engine frequently keeps track of the websites you visit, the searches you conduct, and even the user data you enter. Large corporations like Google assert that the information gathered is only utilized to enhance customers' web browsing experiences. Even if this were true, there are several ways that hackers might utilize the system to their advantage in order to obtain your data.

By not recording any of your search queries or visits, DuckDuckGo offers an additional degree of protection if you don't want to take any chances. Additionally, DuckDuckGo has a lot of other benefits to offer, such offering consistent search results and ad-free browsing.

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Whatever you want to call them—terms of service, terms of usage, terms and conditions—the majority of websites should outline the policies they utilize to operate. Terms like "you maintain control of your data" and "this service can store your data whether you have an account or not" are both safe and potentially harmful.

The terms of service for the majority of well-known websites must be made available in order to shield the owners from potential legal action resulting from how the website handles user data. The main issue is that terms of service are frequently placed inconspicuously and are challenging to see and comprehend.

An addon called ToSDR (Terms of Service Didn't Read) will automatically alert you if the terms of the website you are visiting contain provisions with which you disagree, making it easier for you to read the terms of service. The extension also offers a grading system you can use to assess whether a site is something you can trust with your data if you truly can't be bothered to read any of the terms (which is understandable and a common problem).

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