Unlimited Internet in Ontario Is Full of Possibilities—But Not All of Them Are Good
The availability of unlimited internet in Ontario is a wonderful thing. Every day, families, students, and people of all ages and stripes access their home internet connection, using it as a door to a whole world of information and exciting content. But a door once opened can be walked through in either direction, and there are those out there who will try to use the internet to steal your identity. Identity theft is when someone gains unauthorized access to your personal accounts or other information (such as bank account or credit card details) to use with criminal intent.
Be Wary of Unsolicited Emails
One way that attackers may attempt to steal your identity is by phishing, which is coercing you into volunteering your own sensitive data to them by posing as a trusted source. If you receive an email claiming to be from your bank or from another site where you hold an account, that is requesting more information from you or asking that you click on a link to reset your password or update your credit card details, do not click on such a link. On the off chance that the request is legitimate, visit the website where you have the account and be sure to secure your details properly.
Stay Protected and Up-to-Date
If you’re at home, browsing the internet, and suddenly you get a notification that an update is available for your browser, operating system or anti-virus (which you absolutely should not go online without), you may be tempted to say, “Not today,” or perhaps, “But I just updated that a few days ago!” However, you should always install these updates, since the bulk of them include fixes for security issues which could put your personal information at risk—and the same goes for your mobile device as well!
Only Buy from Trusted Sources
Unlimited internet, in Ontario and around the world, has slowly moved in on retail’s territory, and there are a wealth of goods that you can find online (and sometimes exclusively so). But while you can rest assured the big sites like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy are trustworthy, other e-commerce sites may not be. Before offering your home address or credit card details to any unknown site, be sure that they are using secure encryption (the URL should begin with “https://” instead of simply “http://”) and take a few moments to Google them. If they have been known to be untrustworthy in the past, someone will likely have mentioned it online, and there are sites that curate lists of risky sites.
Keep a Watchful Eye
Regularly check your credit score, banking details, and more for signs of irregular activity, but don’t let it end there. There are many ways that a person can steal your information, and not all of them are through your home internet activities (though the stolen data can be used online). If you are missing any mail—particularly bills—or have had your wallet or phone stolen, take immediate action to secure your information.
Enjoy unlimited internet in Ontario safely and responsibly.
