With more and more daily activities transitioning online, your home no longer guarantees safety from all threats. Whether you’re shopping at your favorite online storefront, socializing with your long-distance besties via video game, or working on an important project remotely, there are countless online threats that could compromise your personal information. At Twin Valley, internet solutions are what we do best, which is why we’re detailing some smart tips to help you browse the internet safely and securely. Keep reading to find out what you need to know—the internet can be an unforgiving place!

Don’t Automatically Save Your Passwords

If you’ve ever logged into an online account, you’ve probably been prompted to save your password the next time you log in. While saving passwords in your browser might seem convenient, it can quickly turn into anything but. If someone gets hold of your device, they can easily access all your saved passwords and accounts. Believe us, this is easier than you might think! Instead of clicking “yes” for the quick solution, our team at Twin Valley recommends using a password manager. Not only can these tools keep your passwords safe, but they can help you generate strong, unique passwords for an extra layer of security.

Check out the top password managers in the game!

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

With two-factor authentication (2FA), you can add an extra layer of security to your accounts! By enabling two-factor authentication, you will be required not only to enter your password but also to provide a second form of verification—this could be anything from a numerical code sent to your phone, a fingerprint scan, or an authentication app. Even if hackers manage to steal your password, it will be much more difficult for them to verify your identity and gain access to your accounts. While we recommend enabling 2FA on all available accounts, it’s especially beneficial for those containing sensitive information, such as your email, online banking, and social media accounts.

Use Secure Networks

Free always means better, right? Well, that’s not always the case, especially when it comes to WiFi. Public WiFi networks are not always encrypted, even if they require a password. This means that anyone in your vicinity connected to the public network may be able to monitor your online activity, including the websites you visit and what information you enter into these sites. When browsing online, make sure your connection is always secure, and visit other sites with HTTPS for encrypted, secure communications. If public WiFi is the only thing available, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to make it much more difficult for anyone to snoop on your online activity.

Safety Tip: If you’re browsing an unsecured website, Google Chrome will display a “Not Secure” alert in the address bar!

Clear Your Browser Cache

If you’re anything like us, you visit countless websites every day. And, to help improve your browsing speeds, your browser cache stores information about websites you visit, such as your login credentials and search history. This means that anyone with access to your device can see this information. To ensure that your sensitive information isn’t readily accessible and remains private, it’s important to clear your cache regularly. While most browsers allow you to set this up automatically, you can follow these simple steps to clear your browsing cache manually:

Safari (Mac)
Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data > Remove All

Safari (iOS)
Phone Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data

Firefox
Options/Preferences > Privacy and Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data

Google Chrome
Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data > Mark Cookies and Site Data> Clear Data

Opt for an Ad Blocker

Ad blockers do more than just remove annoying ads from websites—they can also protect you from malicious advertisements that may contain malware or phishing attempts. Many ad blockers also block tracking scripts that monitor your online behavior, further enhancing your privacy. Be sure to choose a reputable ad blocker and keep it updated to ensure the best protection.