As a new year gets underway, many of us will use it as motivation to make some much-needed changes or alterations. Whether that's getting fit, eating better, or finally cracking on with that hobby, January is a time for improvement.
But there's no reason why that motivation can't extend towards your online security practices - starting early in the year will help you stay safe online throughout 2022, so long as you remain alert to the latest threats.
So if you're looking to up your security game in 2022, here are some of our key tips to getting started.
New year, new password
As we've mentioned, January can be a great time for a home clearout, but it could also be the occasion to freshen up your security protection and clear your mind of extra worry.
We've all been told the importance of having strong and unique passwords for all of your accounts, as employing a mix of letters, numbers and special characters is more likely to help keep you safe by ensuring your password can't be easily guessed.
All it takes is for one weak password to be compromised for hackers to potentially gain access to all of your accounts - and although remembering this may sound like a big challenge, Bitdefender Total Security features an in-built Password Manager service to help you keep track of all your login details, keeping all the information safe from hackers and meaning one less thing to worry about.
Make sure everything is protected
Many of us now own and use multiple smart devices on a daily basis, especially with the growth of remote working, but juggling the different security needs of all these products can be a challenge.
Mobile devices often get forgotten when looking to stay secure, but deserve as much attention as PCs or laptops - especially seeing as if all your devices are connected to a single home network, all it takes is for one device to fall victim to a scam or virus for the entire network to be compromised.
Bitdefender Total Security doesn't just cover PCs, but also safeguards mobile devices, running on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, including several generations of each software. What's more, it can be used to cover up to 15 devices per household, keeping you and your family safe online, whatever devices you use.
Keep the family protected
Now may also be a good time to ensure the rest of your family are also suitably educated about the need for online security, as children of all ages are especially spending more time online than ever.
Making sure everyone stays safe when online is crucial, especially as criminals often try to exploit a lack of proper security knowledge to scam users into giving away login details or password information on services such as gaming sites.
Bitdefender Total Security includes advanced parental controls that allow you to monitor and supervise your family's online activities. The customisable platform means you can filter out inappropriate pages, limit screen time, and block them from any harmful content, making sure everyone is protected.
Stay hidden with a VPN
Although holidays and overseas travel may still not be likely for the foreseeable future for most of us, there is still a way for your devices to help inspire a sense of escapism.
Using a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, allows you to disguise your internet connection to make it seem to appear from a different country or region, meaning not even your ISP should be able to track your internet surfing or snoop on your location.
Although you may have used a VPN for accessing a workplace internet connection over the past year, VPNs can also allow you to enjoy entertainment and sports streaming services from different markets. Bitdefender Total Security includes an improved secure VPN service that offers complete online privacy - and with a 200MB/day free allowance, you can carry out tasks such as online banking and other sensitive tasks safely.
