International Safer Internet Day:

Tips for Freelancers

February 6 is the international Safe Internet Day. We hope that you already know the minimum rules of safety on the Internet and that the cookies, which all sites ask for - are not real.

But in fact, not enough attention is paid to this topic, and most articles are filled with theoretical advices that is difficult to apply in life.

So in this article, we will tell about the most important tips for freelancers on the Internet and provide practical recommendations:

1.Do not use the same passwords for each service

This is probably the most common problem, because according to statistics, 66% of people use the same passwords for all services. It's the same as having one key for your car, house and safe.

Solution: Create unique and complex passwords that are at least 12 characters long, use combinations of uppercase, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters that are unique to each account. Of course, keeping all this information in your head is almost impossible, so try using password managers, for example - LastPass. You only need to remember the password of this service, and it will remember everything else for you. This service has one of the strongest protection systems on the market and at the same time is very easy to use.

2. Backup important data

Make it a habit to use external hard drives or cloud backup solutions. There are a large number of free and paid services for this purpose, for example, the most common are Google Drive and Dropbox.

Solution: we can recommend pCloud, a service used by our Etcetera team. pCloud provides client-side encryption, which, unlike server-side encryption, means that no one but you will have the keys to decrypt your files.

3.Update all apps and software regularly

Updates from manufacturers include fixes for vulnerabilities that can be used by attackers for attacks. Regular software updates help prevent these vulnerabilities from being exploited. Here is a list of what is desirable to update regularly:

- Operating System
- Antivirus Software
- Programs and Applications
- All Browsers
- Mobile Applications
- Embedded Software

Solution: To avoid keeping all this in memory, turn on auto-update. Activate this function in the program if it is available.

Also, following reputable cybersecurity blogs, news sources, and forums can help you stay ahead of potential risks. Most of these blogs provide complex information in professional terms, so we can personally recommend the blog of cyber security expert Troy Hunt, who often provides easy-to-understand cybersecurity tips for freelancers. His posts and videos are easy to understand and have practical advice that can be quickly applied in life.

We hope this post helps you create a safer online workplace. We often share professional tips for freelancers, both beginners and pros, on our social media. We will be glad for your support!