Trojans, viruses, malware ... We keep hearing and reading about nasty hacker attacks. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as one hundred percent protection. But there are helpful measures for surfing the Internet safely.

Why is good security software important?

If a hacker manages to smuggle malware onto your computer, they can take control of the device, spy out access data and encrypt files. Security software detects malware and can prevent it from being installed.

Does software always need to be updated?

Absolutely, in order to surf the Internet safely. There are always security gaps in operating systems or application programs such as Internet browsers. Such loopholes can allow malware to get in, and then it is enough for a user to click on the infected page to get a virus on their computer. As soon as such security gaps become known, software providers usually plug them quickly with so-called patches. It is therefore very important to always keep all software up to date - even on smartphones or televisions that are connected to the internet. Many devices are set to update themselves automatically - you should not change this setting.

What should I bear in mind with my passwords?

It is particularly easy for hackers to crack a user account if they can guess the password simply by trying it out or researching the victim's Facebook page. Names or birthdays of partners or pets are easy to remember, but also not difficult to decipher. A secure password consists of at least eight seemingly random characters and contains upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. To remember such combinations, you can, for example, think of a sentence, take the first letters from it and replace some of the letters with similar-looking numbers. Important: use different passwords for different services.

What other dangers lurk for Internet users?

Hackers use many tricks to trick users into installing malware themselves or revealing access data. This is usually done via fake emails or websites. The only thing that helps against this is a healthy distrust, especially when you are asked to enter sensitive data. Delete attachments from unknown senders.