The 7 most common mistakes we make online

The internet has become an inseparable part of everyday life. It’s where we shop, stay in touch with loved ones, watch movies, use online banking or book doctor’s appointments. Life online is convenient, but it also comes with risks that many users underestimate. We keep making the same mistakes: using simple passwords, clicking suspicious links, ignoring updates and oversharing personal information on social media.

Cybercriminals don’t need to break into huge data centres. It’s enough for them to catch a single user making one of these mistakes. That’s why awareness and building good habits are crucial. What’s more – it’s not only smartphones that are at risk, but also laptops, tablets, smartwatches and smart home devices. In the era of the Internet of Things, virtually any device can become a target if we neglect basic security rules. Fortunately, manufacturers like Xiaomi increasingly build protective tools into their devices – from biometric locks to system-level alerts. But it’s still up to us whether we actually use them.

1. One password for everything

One of the biggest online sins is using the same password for multiple services. If that password leaks from just one platform, the way to taking over all other accounts is wide open. E-mail, social media, online banking, even your accounts in online shops – everything suddenly becomes accessible to anyone who has that single password. It’s like locking your house, car and bank safe with one key – losing it means losing everything.

The solution lies in password managers, unique combinations and biometric authentication. Xiaomi smartphones allow you to store passwords in a secure module and lock access to apps with a fingerprint or face scan. Thanks to this, even if someone finds out your password, they still won’t gain full access to your device.

The most common password mistakes:

• using simple passwords like “123456” or “qwerty”

• never changing passwords for years

• reusing the same password across a dozen different services

2. Clicking suspicious links

Phishing is still one of the simplest and most effective attack methods. An SMS about a parcel surcharge, an e-mail from a “bank” or a link from a friend in a messenger – these are all tools designed to trigger emotions and push you into acting quickly. Clicking such a link may lead to theft of your login data, installation of malware or even full takeover of your device.

The problem is that fake websites increasingly look like the real thing. They have logos, SSL certificates and even professionally prepared layouts. That’s why it’s so important to stay cautious and always check web addresses. Xiaomi equips its smartphones with system mechanisms that warn users about dangerous sites – for example, Redmi 15 can block access to a suspicious page even before the user types in any data.

How to protect yourself?

• carefully check the website address (typos, strange domains)

• never click links from unknown sources

• remember that banks or couriers will never ask for your password in a message

3. Ignoring updates

System and app updates are often treated as an annoying interruption. Many of us postpone them, blaming lack of time, low battery or fear of changes. Unfortunately, that’s a serious mistake, because updates are exactly what patches security vulnerabilities. Every day you delay increases the risk of an attack, as cybercriminals are quick to exploit newly discovered flaws.

It’s worth remembering that updates don’t only apply to smartphones. Laptops, tablets and even smartwatches also need regular fixes. Failing to update a router or IoT device can turn it into a gateway into your entire home network. Xiaomi makes sure that security patches reach not just flagships, but also popular series like POCO F6, which shows that regular updating should be a habit for every user.

4. Public Wi-Fi without protection

Public Wi-Fi networks are extremely convenient, but also a serious threat that many users still underestimate. When we sit in a café, wait at an airport or stay in a hotel, we’re usually just happy to save mobile data. We connect in seconds, rarely thinking about the fact that traffic in such a network can be freely monitored. In practice this means that someone with the right – and not necessarily very advanced – software can intercept the data we send: from passwords and e-mails to login details for our bank. It’s enough to sign in to an online shop or banking site to unknowingly hand over access to your accounts.

Fun fact: an experiment conducted a few years ago in a European city showed just how easy it is to exploit users’ carelessness. Researchers set up a fake hotspot with a name similar to a popular café. Within a few hours more than 200 people connected to the network, some of whom logged into online banking and e-mail. The conclusion was clear – most people trust the network name and don’t think about who really runs the access point.

That’s why the basic rule is: never sign in to sensitive services over public Wi-Fi. Even if you feel the place is safe, the risk of data interception is simply too high. A better option is to use your own mobile data, which is much harder to eavesdrop on, or to additionally secure the connection with a VPN. Many smartphones, including Xiaomi models, make it easy to configure VPN in the settings.

On top of that, mobile devices by themselves can increase the risk – laptops and tablets often connect automatically to saved networks. If someone sets up a fake hotspot with the same name, your computer might connect to it without you ever noticing. That’s an easy path to losing confidential information. This is exactly why the MIUI system on Xiaomi smartphones can detect suspicious networks and warn you that something is wrong. It’s a small detail, but in practice it can prevent loss of money, data and privacy.

Public Wi-Fi is a good example of how the biggest threats aren’t always highly complex hacker attacks. Sometimes it’s our own habits – convenience and the need for quick access – that open the door to cybercriminals. Awareness, caution and using the tools offered by modern technology can make even open networks noticeably less risky.

5. Oversharing on social media

Posting photos of documents, boarding passes, payment cards or publicly announcing holiday plans is a risky practice whose consequences many people don’t appreciate. Scammers can use even seemingly harmless details to build a convincing fraud scenario or work out when your home will be empty.

Xiaomi smartphones let users control their privacy more precisely – for example, by giving social media apps access only to selected photo folders. But it’s worth remembering that the problem isn’t limited to smartphones. Tablets we use to publish posts and laptops used for remote work can also become sources of data leaks if we share everything online without a second thought.

6. Downloading apps from unknown sources

Tempting offers of free games or programs from unofficial websites are one of the simplest ways to infect a device. Many users fall for the promise of a “full version for free”, not realising that such files often contain trojans, adware or even ransomware that locks the device and demands a ransom.

Example: pirated versions of popular mobile games downloaded from obscure forums in 2020 contained malicious code that not only displayed unwanted ads, but also sent premium-rate SMS messages, causing real financial losses.

The MIUI interface on Xiaomi smartphones warns you before installing apps from outside official stores and lets you scan files before they’re run, which greatly reduces the risk. This feature, available in models like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+, is particularly useful, because many users have no idea how easy it is to trigger an infection with a single tap.

The risk also applies to laptops, tablets and smart home devices. Installing software from unauthorised sources can result in your computer being taken over, and a smart speaker or camera turning into a gateway into your home network. That’s why the golden rule is simple: only download apps from official sources, because apparent savings can end up costing you much more.

7. No two-factor authentication

Nowadays, a password alone isn’t enough. Even complex combinations can be compromised in a data breach. Two-factor authentication is becoming a must – an extra SMS code, an app generating tokens or biometric confirmation adds a layer of protection that can literally save your account.

Modern smartphones like Xiaomi 15 Ultra offer not only standard 2FA, but also the ability to lock access to apps and files with a fingerprint or facial recognition. It’s a quick and convenient solution that significantly increases security. It’s also worth remembering that other devices, such as laptops and tablets, increasingly support biometric authentication as well. Skipping this step is a risk that may cost you all your data.

Types of 2FA:

• SMS code

• authenticator app generating tokens

• biometric confirmation

Conscious choices build a safer online presence

The most common online mistakes don’t stem from a lack of technology, but from human routine and low awareness. Using a single password, clicking suspicious links, ignoring updates, relying on public Wi-Fi, oversharing personal information, installing apps from unknown sources or skipping 2FA – these are simple oversights that cybercriminals exploit every day.

Fortunately, each of us can protect ourselves if we understand how serious the problem is. It’s worth remembering that it’s not only smartphones that are at risk, but also laptops, tablets, smartwatches and smart devices at home. Any of them can become a target if we neglect updates, strong passwords or limiting unnecessary permissions.

Modern smart devices show that security has become a standard – manufacturers offer regular patches, system alerts and extensive privacy options. But no phone or computer can replace the user’s own common sense. Awareness, caution and consistently applying best practices remain the most effective weapons in the digital world.