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Home Internet Security Tips
Just like a seatbelt in a car or a helmet on a bike, we all need some type of Internet security to protect ourselves from potential hazards. Here are a few Internet security tips to ensure your safety online.
Mobile Security
Protect your identity in the event of a lost smartphone. Lock, locate and wipe data from a smartphone remotely.
Device Protection
Antivirus protection isn’t just for PCs. Protect your desktop, laptop, tablet and smartphone with antivirus software.
Safe Search
When searching the Internet, look for color-coded icons that signify a websites security.
Shop Safely
Check for the padlock. Be sure the site you’re on uses an SSL (secure sockets layer) certificate encryption. You can easily tell by finding the image of a padlock…
Phishing Protection
Turn on anti-phishing. Several browsers have an anti-phishing feature you can switch on to protect your computer from phishing scams. Turning this feature on is fast and easy…
Social Sharing & Passwords
Be selective and share sparingly. It takes just one security oversight to open access to identity thieves. Even if a profile is private, a completely filled out profile could supply answers to your security questions…
Remove Malware
Look for the signs. Unusually slow performance, warnings from security programs you didn't install, browser pop-ups when no browser is actually open. If you recognize any of these warning signs follow these options…
Social Networking
Social networks are booming. Be aware of new networks, functionality and privacy settings. Have your child walk you through them so you better understand the info they’re publishing online…
Devices & Location
Everything today is mobile. It’s no longer just 1 family computer. Monitoring cell phones, tablets, gaming devices and laptops for social networking apps or other methods of publishing content is a must…
Sharing Personal Info
Keep your info private. Very often web pages will ask children for their personal info in order to provide personalized content to them. It’s best to establish with younger children what types of info they should or shouldn’t provide…
Monitoring Usage
Be in-the-know. You want to keep your family safe and have them build positive connections with the world around them today. Knowing the types of tools available is a great first step…
Internet Security FAQs
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Click here for all FAQs.
What is home network security?
Home network security is the protection of a network that is connected to internet of things (IoT) or smart home devices, which include routers, computers, smartphones, smart appliances, WiFi enabled baby monitors, cameras, and more. Without proper internet security precautions, these interconnected devices can pose a significant security risk to your personal data and privacy.
How do you stay safe online?
There are a number of ways to stay safe online which include checking for HTTPS padlocks on browsers before entering credit card information when shopping online, being aware of email phishing scams, creating unique and strong passwords, securing your WiFi router, limiting the amount of personal information shared on social networks, preventing and removing malware from infected devices, placing family computers in high trafficked areas to prevent children from viewing unsafe content, and monitoring internet usage on your home network.
How do I monitor internet usage on my home network?
You can monitor internet usage on your home network by implementing parental control tools such as content filtering to block access to websites matching unwanted categories, access scheduling which allows you to set a weekly schedule for internet access, and social media tracking to limit your view to just general post and interactions that contain certain words you may deem inappropriate.
How do I secure my WiFi router?
You can secure your WiFi router by changing the default password and creating a strong and unique password for your network. If available, use as stronger encryption standard such as WPA or WPA2 over WEP. Many WiFi routers also have a firewall built in which can be enabled to provide an additional layer of security for your home network. Finally, consider enabling a wireless media access control (MAC) filter. Every device has a unique MAC address. When MAC filtering is enabled it will only allow devices to connect to your network if its MAC address has been added to the filter list.
How do I secure my password?
To secure your password it’s important to not only use a unique password but also differentiate your passwords across all of your accounts. If you use the same password across all platforms and an identity thief accurately guesses your password, they now have access to all of your accounts. In order to create a strong password consider substituting some of the letters for numbers, try spelling a word backwards, use special characters, or use credible online password generators.
Internet speeds will vary due to several factors, and therefore are not guaranteed. Internet speed can be affected by your devices, equipment, your wireless network and even the specific website you are visiting. Performance of a computer or other device, including its processing capability, operating system, the number of applications running simultaneously, and the presence of any viruses will impact speed. The type of connection between a computer or device and modem will affect your speed. In-home wireless connections are subject to greater performance fluctuations, caused by factors like interference and congestion. Certain wireless connections and routers cannot perform at the speeds delivered by Grande. Internet congestion or high usage levels at the website or destination can slow speeds. Accessing a site that is being visited by others at the same time may slow your connection if the site does not have sufficient capacity to serve all of the visitors efficiently at the same time. Grande’s FCC Network Management Disclosure makes available information regarding our network management practices and the performance and commercial terms of our Internet access services to enable you to make informed choices regarding the purchase and use of our services, in accordance with 47 C.F.R Part 8 of the Rules of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Reprinted from pcmag.com with permission. © 2016 Grande Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Readers’ Choice logo is a trademark of Grande Networks, LLC used under license.
