"If you work in cybersecurity, can you tell me how I can protect my info online?"

Hey there! If you're reading this article, it's probably because I mentioned my profession and you asked for some tips on how to protect yourself online. Well, you're in the right place! Let's dive right into it and explore how you can safeguard your personal information on the internet.

First things first, it's important to realize that the reality is, all of us have likely had our information compromised already. It may sound alarming and maybe even a bit defeatist, but hopefully this gives you some perspective on how important it is to be an informed digital consumer. There are still steps you can take to protect your accounts from being compromised in the future.

One simple and effective measure is to make use of your native mobile password manager whenever possible. These password managers are built on web authentication protocols, ensuring that only a token is passed on your behalf, rather than your username and password in plain text. This significantly reduces the risk of your login credentials being intercepted or stolen over untrusted networks, e.g your favorite coffee shop's wifi. 

Another essential practice is to enable two-step authentication for your accounts. This security feature adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a one-time password (OTP) in addition to your regular login credentials. This way, even if someone manages to obtain your username and password, they won't be able to access your account without the unique OTP sent to your registered device.

When it comes to checking your emails, it's wise to be cautious and avoid clicking on links whenever possible. If you receive a notification email prompting you to take action, it's a good idea to open a separate window or tab and manually access your account instead. If you don't see the specific notification mentioned in the email, chances are it was a phishing attempt, and you just dodged a potential threat. Kudos to you!

Now, let's talk about identity protection subscriptions. You might have come across services that claim to monitor your personal information on the internet and alert you of any suspicious activity. While this may sound appealing, it's important to note that these services often detect such activity after it has already happened. In other words, they're not particularly helpful in preventing identity theft. Instead, focus on implementing the proactive measures we discussed earlier to fortify and monitor your defenses. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

That's all for now, but stay tuned for more tips and tricks to protect yourself online. Thanks for reading, and remember, a little bit of caution can go a long way in the vast digital realm.