This month marks the 19th anniversary of Safer Internet Day. Over the years, Safer Internet Day has become a landmark event in promoting online safety and security. Starting as an initiative in Europe in 2004, it is now celebrated in approximately 200 countries and territories worldwide. From cyberbullying to social networking to digital identity, each year Safer Internet Day aims to raise awareness of emerging online issues and current concerns.
Whether you are a young person, a parent, a teacher, or whether you represent an organization or industry, everyone has a role to play in creating and maintaining a better online world.
Here are a few tips to help you be safer in cyberspace:
- Keep Personal Information, Personal – You wouldn’t hand over personal information to strangers individually, don’t hand it out to millions of people online.
- Keep Your Privacy Settings On-Marketers love to know all about you, and so do hackers. Both can learn a lot from your browsing and social media usage.
- Practice Safe Browsing-You wouldn’t choose to walk through a dangerous neighborhood, don’t visit dangerous neighborhoods online. Cybercriminals use lurid content as bait.
- Make Sure Your Internet Connection is Secure– Use a Secure VPN Connection whenever possible. Public WIFI gives you no control over its security measures.
- Be Careful What You Download-A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware to try to steal information. Don’t download apps that look suspicious or from a site you don’t trust.
- Choose Strong Passwords– Passwords are one of the biggest weak spots in the whole Internet security structure. Select strong passwords that are harder for cybercriminals to hack.
- Make Online Purchases From Secure Sites– Online purchases requires credit card or bank information, just what cybercriminals are looking for. Only use sites with secure, encrypted connections.
We all play a role in keeping the cyber world safe. Are you doing your part?