It’s impossible to tell whether everything is protected correctly with that many vulnerable points in the network. Is your connection safe, and where are the flaws? Although ISPs are working tirelessly to make everything secure at their end, companies like Spectrum and AT&T Internet are offering services that are ultra-secure for online shopping and banking, but you can never know where the hacker might get in between your connectivity. Therefore, below we have mentioned some of the 5 important ways to check the security of your internet connection.
1. Check Your Firewall
The firewall is an important tool and is usually the first port to call to check your internet security. The key function of the firewall is to secure your computer’s port from unnecessary traffic. Therefore, it is always a good idea to test these ports in order to prevent unauthorized connections in an ongoing battle to keep your system safe. The firewall is designed for both Windows and Mac, but still, a vast range of external software is available-most of it goes beyond the native apps in function and usability terms.
2. Test your Antivirus Strength
Antivirus software makes sure that no external files break maliciously while downloading takes place. It is also a smart thing to make sure that it is working and that it performs the job properly. A bad antivirus won’t detect threats and will let them corrupt the machine as they arise. You can download an EICAR file to securely test the antivirus performance. EICAR files are harmless, but antiviruses are equipped to identify them as a virus if they happen to be a threat. You should access the EICAR file directly, or merge it into ZIP file layers to keep it hidden from antivirus. Doing this gives EICAR files a perfect way to check your antivirus without damaging your Computer.
3. Check Your Protocols while Surfing
When transmitting data to a website using the HTTP protocol, it’s transmitted as “plaintext”. This indicates that the data between you and the destination server is not encrypted. People can intrude on what you send and may note some private info. That makes HTTP harmful because you’re not sure whether anyone is prying on your data, especially in a public network. On the other hand, HTTPS encrypts the info. HTTPS is usually used to hide your information by encrypting it when you log into a website. You can tell if HTTPS is being used by the website by looking at the URL. If your connection is secure, it should begin with “HTTPS.”
It is important to check the protocol while logging in to a website. You are safe to sign in if it uses HTTPS. If the Website uses HTTP you’ll not see the lock sign that indicates it is not secure to login. If you visit a famous website, you would have a fair risk of being diverted by malware to a false site that looks the same as the real one with the HTTP. This is done so that hackers can access your login details and access your real account on that platform.
It’s worth looking for HTTPS on all sites before logging into them, to keep your data encrypted. This is an add-on that helps any website with HTTPS that supports them.
4. Secure your Router from Hackers
The central hub for the internet connection to your home is your router. It works to make it a key hacker’s target, who can and cannot use your connection. As such, your router should be secured to prevent further headaches. First of all, make sure that your Wi-Fi-key uses WPA2. If you bought the router recently, there is a good chance it is using WPA2. Previous ones are likely to use WPA or WEP, which are considered to be less secure. You cannot use WEP for a whole range of purposes, but just make sure you purchase a new router if you are using it.
5. Check your VPN for Leaks
You should double-check your VPN if you use one, to make sure it prevents the IP Leak. This would ensure that your VPN link is covered by your traffic and that your true data are not “leaked.” This can give you all the details it may extract from your link if you are using the website without the VPN.
If you search the website after the VPN has been disabled, you will see the server details of the VPN rather than your own. If you’re able to see your info that means your VPN isn’t protecting your connection properly.
Conclusion
There are plenty of ways a hacker can break the link to spy on your details. However, you don’t need to worry; you can ensure that your connection is safe for use by performing some simple steps mentioned above.
