Prioritizing Online Safety As A Freelancer

Online safety is a huge concern for freelancers. The internet changes every day, and many freelancers aren’t as knowledgeable as they should be. I know that I struggled with this when I first got started, even if I’ve been online for most of my life. It’s essential to prioritize your safety and put in the work to be safe online.

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In today’s episode, we’ll be chatting about prioritizing online safety as a freelancer.

My Personal Online Safety Story

When I was first getting started working online, I used Upwork a lot. I would apply to all the jobs there. One time I applied to a job, and the creator of the listing had infected a download with malware. Upwork emailed me a few hours later, giving me some tips on the potential malware I downloaded. I was able to install a virus checker, and I was almost certain I was okay. Overall, this stopped me from trusting Upwork clients as much, and I was very particular about clicking things from there on out.

Don’t Open Files

Unless you know a client is reputable, don’t open their files. Whether you are scrolling a job board or checking your email, be careful about the files you download.

Use Google Drive

Whenever I connect with a client to share files like blog posts, I usually send a Google Drive Doc. Most of my clients have access to this. If they don’t, then I download it as a Word doc and send it over.

Use Virus Protection

Since we don’t download music from sketchy sites anymore, most of us will fare well without virus protection. If you are afraid of clicking links or potential viruses, get virus protection. Most virus protection is rather cheap these days.

Be Careful About The Information You Give Out

You don’t need to give out all the information. Be careful about the information you give out like bank routing information, social security numbers, passwords, etc.

Use Password Generators For Secure Passwords

Most people reuse passwords, but you don’t have to. Use a password generator from a place like LastPass to create unique passwords for all your sites. LastPass also stores all your information, so you don’t have to remember those strange passwords you set.

Use A VPN

Last but not least, use a VPN like NordVPN. VPN stands for virtual private network, and these things are great at protecting you. VPNs are especially great if you work on freelance projects from public spaces like coffee shops.