If you’re in the area, come visit us at the Privacy & Security conference taking place this Wednesday and Thursday in The Hague. Avast is a proud sponsor of the GSMA Mobile 360 Series, showcasing relevant discussions for mobile network operators (MNOs), but actually important for any business in the wider digital ecosystem. The two-day gathering of industry leaders will focus on the latest evolving cyberthreats and their respective solutions. GSMA organizers deliberately scheduled the event to take place just as the new GDPR rules and regulations kick in and online privacy is a key concern for people around the world.
Do you ever get the feeling you’re being watched? Guess what — every time you pull out your smartphone or tablet and surf the internet, you are. The websites you visit, the items you browse and buy, the videos you stream, and where you were located when you did it. All of this paints a picture of who you are, what you do, and what interests you — all vital information to advertisers and marketers.
Online privacy is under the microscope, no doubt about it — first the US lost net neutrality, then the news breaks about Cambridge Analytica and 87 million Facebook users, and then we’ve got the GDPR which just took effect last week. Amidst all this opining, lobbying, arguing, and defending, it’s interesting to see who is riled up about the matter and who is not. How concerned are YOU about having your privacy protected online?
As the GDPR took effect in Europe yesterday and privacy continues to be an important issue throughout the world, we took this opportunity to update our own privacy policy because we want our users to clearly understand what data we collect and what we …
A survey this month from International Data Corporation (IDC) found that less than half of European Union (EU) small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are prepared for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For companies operating outside the …
The Cambridge Analytica/Facebook scandal that has captured the media spotlight in recent weeks is a reminder that online security threats are amplified by the ever-expanding reach and power of the digital world. They may seem abstract and less urgent t…
Cybersecurity encompasses multiple defenses. It’s not just an antivirus, it’s not just a VPN, it’s not just a password manager, internet security, and anti-track software. It’s all these things and more, working together to ensure every vulnerability is protected, whether the threats are coming from a phishing email, a malicious website, a botnet, public Wi-Fi, or other avenue. Cybercriminals are trying every angle to crack into our data, and they won’t rest until they do.
Click to view a larger version of the infographic here.
We need to defend our digital lives comprehensively. Here are 5 ways to protect yourself online:
- Get Antivirus Protection: Every month, our network protects hundreds of millions of users from 2 billion malware attacks. Avast Premier is our top-of-the-line antivirus that stops emerging threats, ransomware, spyware, and then some.
- Use a VPN to encrypt your internet connection: A VPN protects your privacy online by masking your IP address and providing an encrypted connection between you and the internet. Access streaming shows when you travel, safely use a public Wi-Fi, and remain anonymous online.
- Use a fast, secure, and private browser: Get state-of-the-art protection for all your online activities—plus ad-blocking, anti-tracking, and anti-fingerprinting. This makes it impossible for others to create an online profile of you. Avast Secure Browser includes all this and it’s up to 4x faster than your standard browser.
- Make your passwords unique and strong: Ever-changing, complex passwords are key to data protection. Use a password manager to securely sync your passwords across all your computers, smartphones, and tablet
devices. Avast Passwords Premium is a great option for
managing your passwords and it also has the added benefit of detecting when sites have been compromised and prompts you to change your password.
- While you’re at it, speed up and clean up your PC: Along with all this protection, apply a full optimization suite like Avast Cleanup Premium which includes over 10 features to improve your PC’s reliability and speed. Our patented technologies provide next-gen tuning and cleaning which frees up disk space, removes bloatware, fixes problems, and increases speed.
1. Do this to make sure you’re on the right booking website, and not an evil twin
Every year, millions are lost — and countless vacations ruined — by fake booking sites crafted to look just like the real ones. Imagine handing your payment over an airline or hotel, and showing up the day of the trip to find out they’ve never heard of you.
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, routes all of your internet activity through a secure, encrypted connection, which prevents others from seeing what you’re doing online and from where you’re doing it. Basically a VPN provides an extra layer of security and privacy for all of your online activities. Want to learn more about VPNs in general? Check out our Essential Guide.