You might have noticed that your internet browser knows things about you. Whether it’s an advert on Facebook for a product you just looked for or an automatic notification on your phone for something nearby, targeted advertising has become far more suspicious recently. On its own this might be fine, it’s just people trying to sell things. However, at 1st Call Detectives we know how important and valuable your personal information is and we want you to be able to keep it safe. Many people have no idea just how much of their personal information is being held by companies.

You may be aware of the rise of data breaches into companies like Yahoo, Adult Friend Finder and eBay, and the consequences these had on individuals using the sites. Though they have of course stepped up security, there are things you can do to protect yourself online.

Here are six simple steps you can incorporate into your online life to keep yourself and your information secure. 

1) Use Private Browser Settings

Private Browser settings may be great for buying your loved one a present and making sure it doesn’t pop up and ruin the surprise, but it’s also used for less noble reasons e.g if you don’t want your partner to see what you are doing online. However, using a private browser is a smart and easy way to make sure your online history isn’t automatically accessible to anyone who uses your computer. Using a private browser online won’t keep you totally secure so don’t rely on it, but it will stop information about your online behaviour being saved onto your computer.

Different browsers have different names for private mode. On Google Chrome and Android you can enable ‘Incognito Mode’, on Internet Explorer you can open a new InPrivate Browsing window, on Mozilla Firefox you can select ‘New Private Window’ and on with Apple you can also search using a ‘New Private Window’.

2) Delete Cookies

You probably get hundreds of requests to enable cookies from various sites. They’re little pieces of information that are stored on your browser to ‘make things easier for you’ online. It’s wise to delete cookies from your computer often, as they can be targeted by hackers as they can contain your personal information. Make sure you are regularly deleting your browser history and when you do ensure that cookies are deleted too. It’s worth being smart, protecting yourself online and not storing too much information on your browser. 

3) Use an AdBlocker

The Internet is full of ads, pop-ups and automatic downloads, and while they may be incredibly annoying, they can also be a risk to your online security. To make sure you don’t accidentally click on a compromised URL and accidentally download malicious software onto your computer, an AdBlocker will prevent popups from opening automatically. There are a range of free and paid for AdBlockers available to download, so have a quick search to see which one you think will be most helpful for you and make sure it’s always enabled. Some AdBlockers will tell you how often they’ve blocked unwanted ads and tracking requests and you’ll be surprised how often you have been targeted.

4) Change your search settings to ‘Never Remember History’

If you’re concerned about your online history being kept then there are ways you can make sure it’s never remembered by your browser. This should be an option in your privacy settings, which are definitely worth checking regularly anyway to keep your online security up to date. By choosing to never remember your browser history there’s a lot less information about your online habits which is great for security purposes. 

5) Use AntiVirus Software

It may seem incredibly obvious but there are still people who browse the internet without any antivirus software. This can open your computer up to all sorts of malicious attacks and it’s just not worth risking. There are both free and paid for options and it’s worth doing research on the best one for you and your security needs. If you’re looking for new antivirus software, there are some essential features you need like malware scanners, online security tools, virus detection and system scanning.

6) Keep your Browser Up to Date

One of the easiest ways for hackers to access your information is through using outdated and less secure software. Online companies are working constantly on increasing browser security so take the extra time to update your browser settings whenever you can.

Keeping your online browsing secure is a smart and efficient way to limit the amount of information companies, agencies and hackers can access. At 1st Call Detectives we are committed to keeping our clients’ information secure and have invested in keeping our site as safe as possible - we have encryption certification too. With our focus on discretion and sensitivity, you know that you can trust us to carry out any work for you without concern. Have a look at what services we offer and get in touch to see how we can help you.