The 10 Best Ways To Protect Yourself Online (So You Can Have The Best Streaming Experience Ever)

Streaming services are becoming more popular every day, whether you’re watching on your phone, tablet, or computer. But with that popularity comes danger. Unfortunately, the rise of streaming services has coincided with a spike in cybercrime and challenges in hiring employees. So if you’re an avid streamer or college student, it’s essential that you take the best steps to protect yourself when using these services. 

To help you stay safe while enjoying all the wonderful things about streaming services, here are some top tips for protecting yourself online so you can have the best experience possible. 

1. Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are the most important thing you can do to protect yourself online. The majority of cybercrime is carried out using stolen login details. To combat this, experts advise users to make their passwords as long and un-guessable as possible. The recommended length of a password should be at least 14 characters. An excellent way to ensure you’re creating a strong password is to use a sentence and then end it with a combination of letters and numbers. 

2. Don’t Reuse Usernames And Passwords

This is an easy mistake to make, especially if you’re a long-time user of an older streaming platform and are now moving on to a newer service. Make sure you use a unique username on every site. And don’t reuse the passwords you already have for other accounts. It’s also worth bearing in mind that if you’ve signed up for one of the big streaming platforms, you might have to use the same email address you used when setting up Amazon or Google accounts. If this is the case, it’s even more important that you don’t use the same password for all three sites. Hackers who access your account can use the same login details to access other platforms you use.

3. Change Your Password Regularly

Like having a strong password, changing it regularly is another good way to protect yourself online. You should change your password regularly, especially if you suspect someone has hacked your account. You might also want to consider changing your password if you’ve used the same login details for a long time. Regularly rotating your login details reduces the risk of hackers accessing your information.

4. Hide Your IP Address

When you connect to the internet, your IP address is displayed for all to see. IP addresses are natural identifiers that let others know exactly who you are and your location. This can be useful in some situations, but it also puts you at risk if you use an unsecured connection and don’t want people to know where you live. A VPN, or virtual private network, is a service you can use to hide your IP address and stay anonymous on the internet. VPNs work by encrypting your data. This means that any data you send through the internet is scrambled so no one can read it. 

5. Don’t Open Emails You Don’t Recognize

It might sound obvious, but don’t open emails from companies you don’t recognize. If you’ve signed up for a streaming service and you get an email that looks like it’s from the company you used when signing up, that’s fine. But if you see an email that doesn’t look legitimate, don’t open it. The best thing to do is to report it to the company that sent it. Streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu have been known to contact users via email, but if you get an email that doesn’t look right, it’s best to err on the side of caution and report it to the company. This can help the company identify other accounts that might have been compromised.

6. Install The Latest Software Updates

Most streaming services regularly send out software updates that add new features and improve the user experience. It’s also important to note that updates can signify that the company is tackling any security issues that have been highlighted. You can also install updates on your computer to ensure that any software issues are fixed. This is particularly important if you’re using an older computer to stream. It’s also best to make sure your computer has the latest software updates to guard against viruses and other malicious software.

7. Use A VPN

A VPN is one of the best ways to keep your data safe while streaming online. VPNs are an excellent tool for securing data when logging into your favorite streaming service. And they’re also useful for protecting your privacy when browsing the internet. VPNs are particularly useful for public Wi-Fi, as they can help protect you from hackers who want to access your data. Use the best VPN for streaming, and you’ll find your experience and online safety improves significantly. 

8. Install Adblockers

Streaming services do offer ad-free subscriptions, but there are a few free ad-supported options out there too. If you’re streaming on a free service, you’ll see advertisements pop up between episodes or movies. Adblockers are a helpful tool that you can use to block advertisements on these sites. Some streaming services are starting to crack down on ad-blocking software. You won’t be able to use it on paid-for streaming services, and some free services may restrict or block adblockers on their site. If you’re going to use an adblocker, it’s worth checking to see if the streaming service allows it.

9. Check Where You’re Streaming From

If you’re using a VPN, you should be able to select what country you want to use as your IP. This is where your data is being routed through. The best way to do this is to choose the country where the streaming service is based. For example, if you’re based in the U.S. and want to watch the U.K. edition of Netflix, you should select a U.K. IP address. This way, the streaming service will think you’re based in the U.K., and you can access the same content as other users in the U.K.

10. Be Careful When Using Free Wi-Fi

You might be tempted to connect when you’re out and about and see a sign for free Wi-Fi. But these networks are often unsecured and have no password protection, meaning anyone within range can access them. If you log on to these unsecured networks, people can see what you’re doing online and access your personal data. This includes personal information for other sites like your bank details, photos, and login details. To stay safe when using free public Wi-Fi, it’s best to use a VPN or another online security measure. This will help protect your data and keep it private.