How to stay safe online
The internet is an incredible place of almost limitless opportunity – but it has a dark side. There are many ways in which cybercriminals can target you, and you may be concerned about how to stay safe online, especially when technology is changing so rapidly.
The good news is there are many things you can do to protect yourself and your family in cyberspace. Here are our top tips to stay safe online:
- Install the latest anti-virus software
- Don’t share personal information
- Create strong, unique passwords
- Check links and downloads before clicking them
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Install a VPN
- Use a digital wallet
- Only enter your details on secure sites
- Backup your data
- Keep social posts professional
- Be careful who you talk to
- Set up parental controls on kid’s phones
- Choose a kid’s phone plan with safety features
- Talk to your kids about cyber safety
How to stay safe online
1. Install the latest anti-virus software
Installing the latest anti-virus and anti-malware software is one of the best ways to stay safe online and protect your devices. Examples include Avast, AVG and Norton AntiVirus. Some great free options are also available, if you can’t afford to pay for anti-virus software. Keep on top of updates, so you’re protected against the latest threats.
2. Don’t share personal information
Never share your personal information, including passwords, usernames and bank details, online or in person. Think twice before sharing seemingly innocent information about yourself too. Quizzes or social media posts that encourage you to share the first street you lived on or your first pet’s name could tell scammers the answers to your security questions.
3. Create strong, unique passwords
Stay away from the most commonly used passwords (we’re looking at you, ‘123456’) and use a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols to make a long, complex password of 15 characters or more.
While you might be tempted to use the same password for every site so you can remember it, this is a bad idea. Use different passwords for each service and, if necessary, employ a password manager to store them all, such as Google Password Manager or iCloud Keychain.
4. Check links and downloads before clicking them
Always think twice before clicking any links online, especially from unfamiliar sites or ‘clickbait’ articles (those which use overly dramatic headlines or incredible images to encourage you to click on them).
Before clicking any links online or in emails, check they are safe by hovering over the link and ensuring that the link address in the preview matches the company’s official website address, which you can find by searching in Google. This also applies to downloading apps – make sure you trust the source, or you could end up downloading malware by mistake.
5. Enable two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication is another way of staying safe online, adding an extra layer of security to logging into your accounts. Many online services now offer this, especially banking apps and those that store sensitive information. As well as entering your password, two-factor authentication also requires you to enter a unique numerical code. This is usually sent to your phone via text message or a dedicated authentication app, such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator.
6. Install a VPN
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Installing one on your phone or computer allows you to access the internet securely. A VPN routes your data through another server, which stops hackers from being able to access your data through your internet connection.
Using a VPN is a good idea if you’re working from home. It also means you can access public Wi-Fi safely – without a VPN you should not connect to any unsecured public Wi-Fi, as you can’t guarantee its security. It could even be a fake network set up by hackers to steal your personal information!
7. Use a digital wallet
If you want to know how to stay safe when shopping online, using a digital wallet is a great way to make your online transactions more secure. Popular options, including Apple Wallet and Google Pay, store your card information so you can use your smartphone instead of a debit/credit card.
These apps keep your card number hidden, and if your device has fingerprint scanning, you can add biometric authentication to your transactions – making them safer than regular card transactions. Check out our article on digital wallets to decide which one is best for you.
8. Only enter your details on secure sites
You may have noticed that some web addresses begin with http:// and others with https://. The ‘s’ in the latter stands for ‘secure’ and means that the site encrypts your data. You should only enter personal information, account and bank details on sites that begin with https://. Some sites also have a padlock sign by the website address, which further signifies their security.
9. Backup your data
You should regularly back up data on all your family’s devices, so you’re protected if they get infected with a virus or malware. In the event of this, your computer should hopefully be able to be restored to its pre-virus state. Cybercriminals can also lock you out of your devices, so you lose access to essential files – another reason it’s a good idea to have a backup.
10. Keep social posts professional
Companies often check the social media accounts of job applicants. To protect yourself from embarrassment and avoid damaging your chances, don’t share anything online that you wouldn’t be happy with a potential employer seeing. Even if you delete it later, there could still be screenshots or copies somewhere – if in doubt, don’t post it.
If you want only your friends/followers to be able to see your posts, you can alter your privacy settings in most social media apps to reflect this. However, remember that nothing is truly private on the internet.
11. Be careful who you talk to
People you meet online may not always be who they say they are. They may give false information about themselves or even create an entirely fake profile to get you to open up to them, send them money, or be deceived into other scams. Always be wary and never reveal any personal information. If you ever agree to meet someone you’ve met online, do so in a public place and make sure someone knows where you are.
12. Set up parental controls on kid’s phones
Parental controls are a vital part of internet safety for kids. They can stop kids from viewing content that is not age-appropriate and restrict the amount of time they can spend on certain apps. You can also turn off the ability for kids to make in-app purchases, avoiding an unforeseen bill.
You can find parental controls under Settings > Content & Privacy Restrictions on iOS. There are also apps available to help your family limit screen time and form healthy online habits. See our article here for more information on setting up parental controls.
13. Choose a kid’s phone plan with safety features
Phone plans with cybersecurity features such as location tracking and activity monitoring can help keep kids safe online. Prepaid plans can stop them from accidentally overspending, and plans with unlimited calls and SMS mean they will always be able to contact you if they need you. Check out our article on choosing kids’ phone plans for more information and to find a suitable amaysim plan for you.
14. Talk about internet safety for kids
These days, kids and teenagers are exposed to all kinds of online threats that didn’t exist a few years ago, from cyberbullying to online grooming. All the tips above apply just as much to your children as to you. Talk to your kids about internet safety and encourage open communication. Ensure they are aware of the risks and know to come to you immediately if they encounter suspicious or threatening behaviour online.
Why do we need to stay safe online?
It is necessary to take the above precautions to prevent yourself and your family from being exposed to dangerous people and content online, which may put yourselves, your devices and your personal information at risk. The internet makes it easier for predators, scammers and bullies to operate, all from the safety of behind a screen. It presents a greater opportunity for hackers to access your personal information and even steal your identity.
Following the safe online behaviours outlined above will make you a difficult target for cybercriminals.
