5 Simple Practices to Stay Safe Online While Streaming

Of course, streaming isn’t the only way to watch online video content. There’s also watching online TV, streaming videos on a laptop, or on a smartphone. However, if you are a regular consumer of streaming content, I recommend watching online over a desktop PC because it’s just a more comfortable and secure experience. However, you need to be cautious when streaming video on your computer because your computer has almost the same vulnerabilities as a personal computer and can become a huge target to cyber criminals who can easily take your precious personal data by exploiting any vulnerabilities you might have. For example, viruses and malware can target your desktop PC just like a personal computer and install malware on your hard drive, making your computer vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

 

The Dangers of Streaming

By now, you must have read a lot of articles claiming that streaming content is one of the most dangerous things you can do online. It doesn’t take a genius to know that some of these articles are just plain wrong or there are hidden agendas behind them. Are you pregnant or want to start a family? Then, that’s not the best idea to stream content online. This is just a catchphrase that has been put together by some reputable media channels. The primary reason behind these articles is the assumption that streaming is all about masturbation and sex, which may not be true. Instead, all these streams are known to cause cancer, damage your arteries, and expose you to harmful radiation.

 

How to Stay Safe Online

First, download the latest software, updates, and patches. Second, uninstall unwanted apps, click on scam ads, and more. Third, take preventive measures like not sharing personal information and other things. Finally, avoid clicking on links in emails, as well as sharing any personal information over social media. It’s safe to stream online because the country’s major internet service providers ensure all their customers are safe and secure from online threats. However, there are people who don’t have any access to internet at all and this is where VPNs come into the picture. VPNs are a good thing to have while streaming, as they act as a virtual private network and shield your data from hackers.

 

Install Antivirus

After downloading the best VPN of 2018, our readers started sharing their concerns about installing antivirus. On the other hand, we have heard people claiming that they had no interest in installing antivirus. However, we strongly believe that you need antivirus especially when streaming online. What’s more, when you use streaming services like US Netflix in UK, you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription fee. To put that in perspective, it’s equivalent to paying almost £6.67 for every month. Download and Install an Antivirus App With the end goal of keeping your computer safe from viruses, you’ll have to install an antivirus app on your computer. However, you don’t need to worry about this software running slow when browsing online.

 

Install VPN

Virtual Private Networks, also known as VPNs, are used to allow users to connect to private servers to access remote online content or services from anywhere on the globe. With a VPN, you can access geo-locked content from outside your country, or even stream content you’ve bought and downloaded from abroad, such as Hulu, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more. They work by hiding the network identity of the user’s connection from the location they are accessing it from, thereby creating a secure tunnel for data flow. Installing a VPN can be quite complicated, so read through our comprehensive guide on How to Install VPN on Windows PC. To gain access to your entire content library from any location you choose, you will need to select an appropriate VPN provider with a good track record.

 

Install a Firewall

Most of the major streaming websites and apps have some kind of firewall in place, and one of them is Netflix. It is incredibly important to have one installed, because you should be protected from viruses, hackers, and malware. Why you should use a Firewall? A firewall helps protect you from malware that can compromise your privacy and turn you into a vulnerable target. In this age, it is really easy to browse on your mobile devices while surfing the web or using Facebook. Just follow these steps to block all those websites that are not meant for you. Enable HTTPS Another extremely important step you need to take is to enable HTTPS. By enabling HTTPS, your Netflix app will be more secure and protected. As a result, any data you share via the internet will be encrypted.

 

Disable JavaScript

Most internet browsers are insecure, and some of the web browsers (Chrome, Safari) don’t even allow you to block the most common keyloggers. The presence of JavaScript in web browsers means that someone is tracking your every move, from every step you take on the internet, including your real IP address. Therefore, the best way to protect yourself from being tracked is to disable JavaScript. The steps are quite simple. Go to https://www.eff.org/plugin/tools/restrict-javascript/ and disable it. Don’t Use System Applications and Plugins The most dangerous apps and system applications are: Microsoft Office Skype DropBox Avast Antivirus Steam Google Chrome Dropbox Many people trust these applications and store their private data there.

 

Conclusion

After you have learnt about 5 Simple Practices to Stay Safe Online While Streaming, you must get a few tips to follow in order to stay safe online. Before streaming, make sure you have a good internet connection, especially for streaming. For this, you can ask your ISP if you have any issues with the speed or quality of the connection. Check the ‘Help and FAQ’ section of your ISP’s website for details on internet plans. After installing VPN or proxy to access US Netflix in UK, also install a security app like Lookout to protect your browsing from malicious websites or snoopers. While streaming, be cautious about websites or apps that use a JavaScript that you might not recognize.