If there’s one thing hackers know how to do well – aside from hacking of course – is surfing the web. Their main focus is leaving behind as little trace of their browsing tracks as possible. In addition, they also know how to do everything to protect themselves and their devices, from other hackers or malware. Unfortunately, most of us don’t know how to surf that way. That’s why these tips showing 8 ways to use the internet like hackers do is so useful. Too many of people use the internet and leave themselves wide open to hackers, virus and malware. Plus, there are numerous sites which collect user data and personal info. Luckily, these tips will help you not only browse the internet as safe as possible, but also assist you in protecting your privacy as well.
- Use Multiple Accounts –
When it came to having an email address, most people only had one or two, at best. However, as email increased in popularity and usage, more and more individuals began to add extra email accounts. Statistics from Microsoft in 2011 showed that average users in the United States each had at least 3 email accounts. It is safe to say that those numbers have gone up quite significantly now. Having multiple email accounts is not a bad idea for various reasons. For one, it lets you separate your personal from the business or professional life. Secondly, it allows you to have one account where you can use for regular surfing. Take Google accounts such as YouTube, Gmail, Hangouts and Google Drive. All of these require that you log in to be able to use them. By having separate accounts you can use each one accordingly. See tip 2 for more.
You may also want to read these 8 Tips To Follow Before Erasing Your Computer
- Surf Using Incognito Mode –
One of the best tools browsers have is the incognito mode. This mode allows users to surf anonymously without being tracked or monitored. Most website automatically store your data and account information without you even knowing it or giving them permission. While some do ask, most do not. Using incognito mode will also work great with step 1. Using it, you can log in using multiple accounts. On a regular browsing mode, you can use one account for Google, Facebook or any platform. But if you open an another incognito window, you can use a totally different account. It’s like having 2 devices available at the same time. A useful shortcut is pressing CTRL+Shift+N at the same time in either Safari, Firefox or Chrome. Doing so will open up a private window for you to use.
- Reopen Last Used Tab –
A great trick to know when surfing the web is reopening the last tab you closed. It could have been by mistake or something else. No matter what, if you press “Ctrl+Shift+T” simultaneously, you will automatically open your last closed tab. That command works for Windows. For Mac OS, press “Command+Shift+T”. This tip is very useful if you want to compare websites or products on pages.
- Hover Over Links –
One of the biggest tricks hackers use to fool people into visiting harmful sites is phishing. This is sending a link to a site such as a bank, credit card company or other legitimate site. However, the real destination of the site is quite differently from the name on it. If you receive a suspicious email or link to a site, simply hover over the link. Next, you look at the bottom left corner on your device. It is there that you will see the real and actual website you are being sent to. If it does not match the actual name, avoid it altogether.
- Use Password Managers –
One of the most frustrating things is having to constantly input your username and password every time you log in to a site. Apart from that, it can also be dangerous since it leaves you open to hacks. Using a password manager such as LogMeOnce, Dashlane and LastPass are great options. They also work very well with both Firefox and Chrome. Another useful thing about them is that they can also work across different computers. That means you can use them while at work and at home. Apart from time, they will also help keep you secure since you can create even more difficult passwords.
- Search Using Highlight –
A very useful tool users can take advantage of is searching while highlighting a phrase or a term on an article. After highlighting any term, word or phrase, all you have to do is right click on it and then select which search engine to use. Most people have Google on it, other browsers have Google, plus other search engines. Once you do so, a new tab will open up and you save a lot of time having to do manual search.
- Use Adblock –
The vast majority of websites have popups and annoying advertising when you visit them. Some sites seem to be entirely more ads than anything else. Using an add-on such as Adblock, will allow you to make your browsing experience much better. Keep in mind that certain sites will not let you browse their content if you have Adblock software activated. You can either use an incognito page or turn it off for that particular site until you are done.
Don’t forget to read these 11 Tips On Identifying Spam, Spoofing And Phishing Emails
- Use The Site: Function –
We have all experienced a moment when we had been surfing a site, then closed it or forgot about the path. Luckily, there’s an easy way to find the site you are looking for. Simply go to any search engine and use “Site:website.com” function. For example, in the search query, type “Site:” and then add a word or search query to it. This will most likely return you to the page you were using. This function is very helpful because it narrows down the number of searches.
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