Scam Alert: Don't let hackers blow up your bank balance; adopt these 5 habits to protect yourself..

Scams are a common fear among most people these days. Whether making an online payment or clicking on a link, everyone worries about emptying their bank account or falling victim to a scam. In India, people are constantly subjected to various types of scams. The government warns people about various scams, but despite this, millions still fall victim to them. However, by adopting certain habits, people can protect themselves from hackers. Let's find out what they are.

Make 2FA a top habit.
Whether it's WhatsApp or Facebook, most social media apps and other platforms offer 2FA, or two-factor authentication. This prevents hackers from logging into the app or your account. This doubles the security of your account.

Even after knowing this, people ignore it, which is their biggest mistake. You should make it a habit to set up 2FA as soon as you create an account on every app or platform.

The habit of identifying phishing messages and emails at a glance
You must be reading news stories every day to avoid such emails and messages. Don't make the mistake of clicking on links. Yet, sometimes, due to haste or carelessness, you fall prey to such messages and emails. Train yourself to recognize a phishing email or message at a glance.

Make it a habit to first check where the email is from and the company it belongs to. Only then reply or respond. This way, you will easily spot a phishing email or message.

Be careful while browsing.
Many people fall prey to hackers while browsing. Nowadays, most people surf the internet and don't pay attention to which website they are visiting. You should develop the habit of first checking the URL.

Keep in mind that if the URL starts with https://, it indicates an encrypted connection, and if it starts with HTTP, it is not secure. This often happens on public Wi-Fi. Therefore, make it a habit to check the URL first when browsing.

Get into the habit of using a VPN.

Using public Wi-Fi in cafes, airports, and hotels is risky. These networks are open and often unencrypted, making them easy targets.

A common method is a man-in-the-middle attack, in which a criminal on the same network intercepts traffic between your device and the internet. Always use a virtual private network (VPN) on public Wi-Fi. This creates an encrypted tunnel for your traffic.

Turn off permissions without checking.
Every app you install asks for permission to access your data and hardware. Therefore, you should practice the rule of least privilege.

Give each app only the access it needs. Maps apps only need your location during use. Photo editors need your photos.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Navbharat Times. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.