Bridge Base Online is a site that takes all the necessary precautions to ensure that your online bridge playing experience is safe, encrypted and fair. This doesn’t mean that PC security is a completely done deal – there are a few things that you can do as computer user to make sure that your devices are safe.
Here’s a short guide to PC security for bridge players – and how to make sure your playing experience is a great one.
Install an Antivirus
Viruses are everywhere in cyberspace, and they can put your entire computer at risk. Bridge Base Online and its servers gets scanned on a regular basis to ensure that the site itself is as safe and secure as it can be – but you should still secure your individual device against any internet nastiness.
Free antivirus options are available, including AVG and Avast.
Update Everything
Make sure that you’re using the newest version of the Bridge Base Online client or app, and make sure that you’ve updated your browser (and your Flash player if you’re still using Flash) at the same time, too. Most of the issues that you can experience (including lag) will happen because you’re using an older version of something – and usually an update can fix it. This also stops viruses and hackers from exploiting any possible vulnerabilities that might have existed in out-of-date software.
Try Another Browser
Experiencing lagging or repeated crashes? Where it’s not an update of something that’s needed, it’s usually caused by software clashes. First, look in your browser settings and disable the different browser add-ons until you can find the one that’s causing the problem – and if this doesn’t fix it, switch over to another browser and your tech issue should be one of the past.
Scam Awareness
Nobody from Bridge Base Online or the ACBL will ever ask you for your login details (or for money), and if someone does, you aren’t dealing with the real thing. If you aren’t sure of an e-mail you’ve received, contact the organization or company that it claims to be from and ask. Be aware of scams out there that might affect bridge players: Don’t fall for them, and report them to the relevant authorities or organizations where you find them.
Secure Passwords
Always choose secure passwords for your online accounts, and make sure that you don’t choose the same passwords for all of your online accounts. Don’t, for example, use your online banking password for BBO – and for the love of all things cybersecurity, please don’t give your password to anyone and don’t write it down anywhere.
Automatically Log In?
The Automatic Log In option might be convenient for you when you’re visiting a website that you frequent – but it can also be convenient for everyone else who sits down in front of the PC (or for that matter, accesses it remotely).
Always set the Automatic Log In option to Never if you’re playing on a device that could be accessed by someone else. While it might take just a few seconds to log back into your account, it’s a lot safer in the long run, whether we’re talking about Instagram or Bridge Base Online.
Clean Up
It’s a good idea to clean up your PC and smartphone every once in a while. A hard drive doesn’t like being too full of residual files and running “stuff” that takes up necessary resources – so if there are any programs that you aren’t using, uninstall them ASAP, and if you haven’t cleared your browser history in forever, maybe it’s time to do it. (Just look under Settings.)
Logged Out?
When you’re done with your game, always make sure that you log out. Some websites (including BBO) have a function that will automatically log you out after a period of inactivity (such as many online banking platforms), but never assume that it does. Logging out and back in whenever you have to access personal websites gets you into the habit of doing it – and reduces the likelihood that you’ll leave an important account logged in when accessing it from a public internet access spot.