Believe it or not, there are quite a few people using the internet every day—for important stuff like banking and working no less—without running some type of internet security software on their devices. That’s like preparing to fight a dragon while wearing only a pair of Bermuda shorts, an old concert t-shirt (probably Metallica), and holding a spatula. It makes no sense whatsoever. That’s why you need internet security software. Whether it’s to protect your family online, keep your own files safe, or maintain a higher privacy level, quality internet security is necessary now more than ever. Here’s how internet security software can help you protect your family online.

Email Protection

Although it’s been around for over 50 years, most of us have experienced email much more recently than that as part of our jobs and daily lives. Of course, email is one of the quickest routes to fall victim to a scam. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you know what to look for when checking your email. First and foremost, you should never click on suspicious links in an email. That’s a good way to help fall victim to a phishing attack. You should also verify attachments before downloading them. Who knows if somebody’s sending you a virus or spyware masquerading as an adorable cat video? You should also use strong passwords to verify and safeguard your account as much as possible. Keep your email software updated as well to avoid any exploits or potential breaches. Safety and security should always be at the top of your mind when using email. Luckily, powerful software tools can help you monitor your email and identify potential risks (phishing attempts, spam, scams, or otherwise) that can compromise your privacy or data.

Blocking Threats From The Web

Have you ever been browsing the web and suddenly noticed your performance slowing down or it’s something randomly downloaded from a website? If you have, you might have previously become victim of a drive-by download, adware, or spyware clandestinely making its way onto your device. Drive-by downloads are types of malware that are automatically downloaded or installed onto your computer without you knowing about it. Sometimes they happen when you visit certain websites. Other times, they may be bundled with other software. Some sites or apps automatically download malicious payloads when you visit them or have legitimate looking forms that essentially intend to steal your data. These types of threats are difficult to prevent at times. Fortunately, you can use a mix of different extensions, antivirus/antimalware tools, or premium security to stop these threats in your tracks.

Enhanced Privacy

Although technology is an amazing and wondrous thing — who doesn’t love having a supercomputer in their pocket at all times — but it can also compromise our privacy. Sadly, privacy is becoming more and more of a commodity as new technology comes about. Companies eager to track and buy / sell data from consumers aren’t always invested in their users’ privacy. Worse, when you go online your anonymity is not guaranteed. Fortunately there are some services like virtual private networks that can maintain your privacy on one. Internet security software can also help warn you if a website looks suspicious and help you avoid following into the lure of a phishing attempt (or worse).

Fraud Prevention

Although we buy things online, do banking, and even work remotely via the internet, fraud is still very much alive in the digital world. Identity theft, in particular, is on the rise. Protecting yourself against fraud and data theft can be challenging. Fortunately, keeping software up to date, using strong passwords, using multi-factor authentication, and using a VPN while browsing can help you safeguard your date. The best internet security suites also offer some measure of identity theft protection. It can identify whether or not aspects of personal information tied to your accounts have appeared on the dark web or might have been compromised by some service you used. Fraud isn’t easy to get around sometimes. But you can at least use a few privacy best practices and security software to keep it at bay.

Family Safety

So how can you keep your family safe online? Part of it comes down to teaching them common sense cybersecurity practices, internet/social media best practices, what to look for in potential phishing emails, and limiting their time online. But you can also use your internet security software to your advantage. Since these softwares have antivirus programs and firewalls, they can detect and prevent malicious software that would otherwise negatively affect your systems. Security software can also warn you when cyber criminals try to steal sensitive data or access sensitive systems. Parental controls can help you monitor and limit online activity for multiple devices in a household. They can also help you by allowing you to scan emails and instant messages for inappropriate materials and/or phishing attempts. Internet security software also typically updates itself so you won’t ever fall behind on when new threats emerge. That can go a long way toward keeping your family safe and helping you get the most out of your time online.