When you browse the internet, are you fully aware of the risks that you might encounter? Don't be complacent when surfing online, or you could be a victim of scams including identity theft, malware, and social engineering.

In order to be safe online, here are the top 10 safety do's and don'ts that you should always keep in mind.

DO: Install Antivirus Software and Update Regularly

This is one of the most basic safety protocols that you should implement on your personal and work computers. There are many different options when it comes to this type of software.

Free ones offer basic security features but if you want maximum security, you should set aside a decent budget. Make sure that you consider malware protection for safer web browsing.

And it's vital you keep it updated. New vulnerabilities are often found and patched; if you're running an older version of antivirus software, those issues haven't been fixed on your device. You can set most security suites to update automatically. You can similarly set them to scan your computer on a regular basis without you needing to do anything else.

DO: Choose Strong Passwords

How to import passwords into Chrome

Passwords serve a crucial role in protecting your data online. Whether it be for your social media profiles, shopping accounts, or personal email, you will need to create strong passwords.

Some sites offer suggestions, i.e. a mix of alphanumeric and special characters. Some don’t accept passwords that don’t comply with their requirements. However, not all websites offer this. When you are creating your own password, remember that you are protecting your integrity and personal information.

Related: How to Protect Yourself From Fraudulent Stores on Shopify

DO: Limit Personal Information

Don’t put too much personal information online. By sharing your private information with the public, you are at risk of compromising your location, daily routine, and more.

Don’t forget about identity theft. The more you provide information about yourself, the greater the risk that your identity will be copied by a cybercriminal. This is a very serious matter and can wreck lives. Many people have fallen victim to this. You wouldn’t want to be the next one.

DO: Stay Away from Suspicious Clickbait

clickbaits-internet-ads

When surfing online, you will encounter different websites that showcase pop-up ads that can entice any unknowing person to click. Clickbait ads are dangerous because they can lead to potential viruses infiltrating your computer.

Be more vigilant about what you read and click when online. Verify information first—notably where links actually take you—before you click, even if they seem to be highly interesting.

DO: Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) provides an additional layer of safety for your account. This helps deter scammers because it would require two pieces of evidence to verify the authenticity of the account owner, i.e. a password plus verification code sent to a phone number or email address.

This makes it more difficult for criminals to steal your information and access your data. This is essential if a website offers this option.

DON'T: Use a Single Password for Different Websites

easy-password

Imagine a house with multiple locks but only having one key to open all rooms. If a burglar gets hold of that single key, all of your rooms can be opened simply.

This applies to password protection too.

Related: How Dice can Reinvent Internet Safety

Setting a strong password is not enough. You should learn how to mix it up so that any potential scammer or identity thief won’t be able to fully compromise your personal information. Otherwise, if one service suffers a data leak, all the other ones you use will be exposed too.

DON'T: Stick With a Single Email Account

Your email is an essential factor for signing up on websites. Even when it comes to online banking, an email is required. But imagine forgetting your email login details.

What will you do? What if an online criminal compromises your single email address? It would be smart to create multiple email accounts to help you with a back-up plan, so that you can still retrieve important data.

DON'T: Store Personal Card Details On Websites

Whether you are an avid online shopper or use them sparingly, it would not be wise to store your card details on websites.

The more data you store on sites, the greater the chance of identity theft, should a data breach occur. You often have to take this risk when it comes to Personally Identifiable Information (PII), seeing as many services need basic personal details to create an account, but storing your financial information elsewhere is unnecessary.

DON’T: Download Unknown Software

malware feature

Have you been browsing and an advertisement appeared, offering software for free? No matter how good this offer looks, don't download this.

If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. This is true of unsolicited email attachments too.

Related: Types of Computer Viruses to Watch Out For

Your security suite should protect you against many threats, but by clicking on something without knowing its full contents, you could be inviting malware into your system.

DON’T: Allow Websites to Remember Your Username and Password

Allowing websites to remember your username and password is tempting, but something best avoided.

Anyone able to access your computer, laptop, or smartphone can easily get into your accounts because all the login credentials are already stored in cookies. You may use a service all the time, but don’t be too comfortable when logging into different websites online.

Internet Safety Requires Simple Smart Choices

Your internet safety relies so much on basic choices.

The more you make wise decisions, the less likely your identity is compromised. The onus is really on you here. Cybercriminals are just waiting for you to make any wrong moves. So be smart; be vigilant. Never let your guard down when browsing online.