5 tips on how to stay safe online
Kids have more information at their fingertips than any generation before. Tablets, laptops, and smartphones are common at school and at home, including for virtual learning. And the devices aren’t going away anytime soon, which is why families should have conversations about internet safety.
Top 15 Internet Safety Rules for Everyone
Most of us rely heavily on the internet to enjoy social media, online education, remote work, and entertainment. But widespread use doesn’t equal widespread understanding. The good news is that many ways to stay safe online exist. To help, we’ve brought together some of the best pieces of advice here. First and most important — use a VPN to browse securely.
Table of contents
- 1. Keep your confidential data offline
- 2. Check a website’s reliability
- 3. Use a strong password
- 4. Use two-factor authentication
- 5. Avoid suspicious online links
- 6. Keep your computer updated
- 7. Beware of free Wi-Fi and downloads
- 8. Double check online information
- 9. Secure your internet connection with VPN
- 10. Use cybersecurity software
- 5 rules to teach your children on staying safe online
Let’s get down to the top 15 internet safety tips for kids and adults to follow.
1. Keep your confidential data offline
“Some data — such as your Social Security Number — should just never go online”
But cybercriminals cannot access or steal your personal information if it’s nowhere to be found on the internet.
That’s why some data — such as your Social Security Number — should just never go online. However, when you still have to share it, be sure to send it as an email attachment and encrypt the file before sending.
Pro tip: One of the ways your personal info can be compromised is through a data breach. Regularly check your accounts for breaches with the Clario Data breach monitor.
2. Check a website’s reliability
“The address line should have a little padlock at the beginning —- this means the connection is encrypted”
As of January 17, 2021, Google had registered more than 2 million phishing sites. But how do you tell a reliable site from a fishy one? First, look at the address line: it should have a little padlock at the beginning — this means the connection is encrypted.
Second, review the look and feel of a website. Below are some criteria to indicate if a website is safe to use:
- pages look neat and are free from mistakes
- grammar in the body text and address line is consistent
- all images fit the screen’s width correctly
- ads feel organic and don’t obscure the main content
If the website meets all this criteria, then it is likely to be safe to use.
Pro tip: Use the Clario browser extension to automatically check sites for malicious content and notify you if they are safe to access.
3. Use a strong password
“Strong passwords should contain at least 12 symbols — letters, numbers, and special characters”
Using strong, unique passwords offers good online protection. Strong passwords should contain at least 12 symbols and feature a mixture of letters (upper and lower case), numbers, and special characters. A recent cybersecurity study showed that passwords under 10 characters could be cracked within an hour. However, those containing at least 12 characters will take about a year to break (and 15-character passwords will withstand a millenium of brute-force attacks).
If you don’t want to think of a combination of symbols for your password, you should try using one of the online password generators.
Pro tip: To check if your passwords leaked, use the Clario Data breach monitor — just enter your email, and we will check all the associated accounts for breaches.
4. Use two-factor authentication
“Even If someone gets a password for your account, they won’t be able to access it if it’s protected by 2FA”
2FA or two-factor authentication is used to provide your account with an additional layer of protection. When you sign into your account with 2FA, you must not only enter the correct password, but also an additional code generated earlier or sent to your device. If someone just gets a password for your account, they will not be able to access your profile without entering this additional code.
5. Avoid suspicious online links
“Shady links are easy to recognize: they will urge you to click or open them”
There’s a certain kind of online content you should avoid: suspicious links from untrusted sources and spam emails, click bait, online quizzes, tabloid headers, ‘free’ offers or unsolicited ads.
If it is a malicious email attachment, the text will not mention the file. Instead the message will just say something like ‘open the attached file and let me know what you think’.
On a website, make sure both text and accompanying links are on the same subject. If you click a link to read more about polar bears and instead of seeing the Arctic, you get a ‘success story’ about a celebrity who lost weight or gave up smoking overnight, then quickly leave the page.
Pro tip: Install Clario browser extension to check links and search results so you know if they are safe to open.
6. Keep your computer updated
“Do your bit to keep your devices secure by regularly updating your software”
It’s important you use the latest versions of your operating systems and apps. Especially if these apps contain your payment, health, or other sensitive info. Developers are constantly working to make products safe, monitoring the latest threats and rolling out security patches in case of vulnerabilities. So, accept their work, update your software regularly, and do your bit to keep yourself secure.
7. Beware of free Wi-Fi and downloads
“Free downloads, online services or Wi-Fi networks are the most common sources of online security problems”
Free downloads, online services or Wi-Fi networks are the most common sources of online security problems. If you decide to go for a free solution, make sure it has a reliable reputation: research the name of the service or software and you will probably find some feedback on how it works.
Using free public Wi-Fi is not always safe, but sometimes we need to go online urgently. Remember to avoid accessing your bank accounts or completing purchases via free Wi-Fi. If you do need to do this, use VPN software to get protection for the data you send over the unsecured network. If it’s not urgent, then it’s better to postpone any important transactions until you get home.
Pro tip: If you want to stay safe using public Wi-Fi and also secure your home network, use Clario’s Wi-Fi protection.
8. Double check online information
“Reliable websites should have references to the original information source”
It’s easy to get lost in the flood of online information we’re exposed to everyday. If you find something questionable, do your own research to find out the truth or – at least – make up your own mind on the matter. Reliable websites should have references to the original information source. Suspicious pages won’t offer any references at all.
9. Secure your internet connection with VPN
“A VPN will hide your bank details when you’re shopping online and other sensitive information that can be compromised”
A VPN makes your internet connection private by changing your IP address. It also hides the sensitive data you send over, including bank details when you’re shopping online and other private information that can be compromised.
Pro tip: Get a Clario VPN to make sure your connection is safe across all devices.
10. Use cybersecurity software
“In some cases, following the above is just not enough”
A reliable cybersecurity solution will provide you with an extra level of safety, covering your back in cases when following these rules above is just not enough.
Clario provides you with additional privacy benefits like real-time antivirus protection for Android and macOS, unlimited VPN, and an ad blocker with an anti-tracking feature. It will protect you from spam and phishing, and instantly alert if your personal data goes public. If you have any questions or doubts, a team of experts is at your service 24/7/365.
Start with Clario in 3 simple steps:
- Download Clario
- Get a subscription to create an account
- Make sure you run an antivirus scan
4. Use VPN to secure your internet connection.
Now that you know how to protect yourself online — it’s time you shared some basics with your kid(s). These security lessons are also good for other family members who may be less familiar with the internet (such as elderly relatives). So, here they are.
5 rules to teach your children on staying safe online
Teaching your kids to stay safe online is extremely important. Your online network is only as strong as your weakest link.
- Explain to your child what a digital footprint is. Together with your child, search for information about yourself or an actor they like, and discuss the results. Talk about what others may learn about you from these results and how we leave a digital footprint on the internet – consciously or not.
- Create family rules for shared content. Clearly define for the whole family what content should and shouldn’t be shared online. Photos and personal information such as your home address and phone number should be among the first on the list.
- Help your child detect phishing. Explain to your child how to avoid messages, links, or emails from strangers asking for account information or featuring a weird attachment.
- Teach your child to create strong passwords. You can tell your child that an effective password must contain different characters and warn that it should not be shared with anyone.
- Encourage positive communication online. Explain to your child the importance of behaving politely online and to treat others the way you want to be treated. Just like in the physical, offline world
Read more:
- Using Tor vs. VPN for Anonymous Browsing
- How Multifactor Authentication Works
- How to Hide Your IP Address
5 tips on how to stay safe online
A big part of our everyday lives happens on the internet. Therefore, internet safety is an important issue. Here are five simple tips on how to stay safe online.
1. Use unique passwords
Using the same password for logging in to multiple accounts might seem easy and more convenient. The only problem is that it also makes things easier for hackers. When hackers steal the password you use, they can get into all your accounts.
To be safe online, you need to have strong and unique passwords. You have sensitive personal information stored on surprisingly many online accounts. Criminals can use this information for identity theft, for example.
2. Log out from services
When you’re done with a banking session or with another account where you have sensitive information, log out and close your browsing window. This is especially important when you’re at an internet café or other public space outside the safety of your home.
Logging out helps reduce the chance of cross-site request forgery attacks. The attacker can make your browser send requests to sites you are logged into. For example, they can request a bank transfer.
3. Keep your software up to date
Software is written by humans, and humans make mistakes. That’s why software can sometimes include flaws that compromise internet safety. Hackers can scan the internet for computers running old software versions with flaws, and then target those computers specifically. Enable automatic updates to stay safe from these online attacks.
4. Beware phishing attacks
Phishing is when an attacker tricks you into opening a malicious link or an email attachment. Attackers use phishing to infect your device with malware, or to steal your login credentials.
If you receive a suspicious email, be careful. Take extra care before clicking links or opening attachments. And remember that phishing isn’t only via email — you can receive phishing links in SMS messages or chats as well.
5. Take back-ups
What if one day your device was locked, and you couldn’t access any of your important documents, photos, or videos? Ransomware happens. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the files on your device and demands a ransom fee for decryption. To be safe online, take backups just in case your device ever gets lost, stolen or gets infected.
Want to be safe from online threats?
Following these tips will help you stay safe online. To maximize internet safety, get internet security software to keep you safe online. F‑Secure Total offers award-winning protection against viruses, ransomware, unsafe websites, and other internet dangers.
You can try it for free for 30 days, with no credit card required.
20 internet safety tips and checklist to help families stay safer online
Tablets, laptops, and smart devices are common at school and at home. The internet brings a wealth of information that can enrich our lives. But it also can harm us and the people we love. You want your children to have access to information, but you also want them to be safe. These internet safety tips can help.
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Kids have more information at their fingertips than any generation before. Tablets, laptops, and smartphones are common at school and at home, including for virtual learning. And the devices aren’t going away anytime soon, which is why families should have conversations about internet safety.
The internet has information that can enrich our lives. It also can harm us and the people we love. You want your children to have access to it, but you also want them to be safe online. How can you get both things?
This is the challenge of living in a connected world. The bad guys may be smart, but you and your kids can be smarter. Reference these internet safety tips — or jump to the internet safety checklist — to help ensure your whole family stays safer online.
What is internet safety?
Internet safety is the act of staying safer online. This includes being aware of the risks associated with your online activity and employing a few strategies to prevent or avoid these risks. Internet safety is also sometimes referred to as online safety, cyber safety, or e-safety.
Why is internet safety important?
Playing it safe online can help prevent you — and your kids — from being exposed to unwanted information, materials, or risks on the internet that might harm your devices, personal information, or your family. It’s smart to teach children computer safety so that they don’t fall victim to some common dangers of the internet.
It’s worth noting there are federal laws in place, like the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, that have been enacted to protect kids when online. COPPA applies to children younger than 13 and it requires websites to explain their privacy policies and get parental consent before collecting or using a child’s personal information. Importantly, it prohibits sites from requiring children to provide excess personal information to play a game. Still, laws are sometimes broken online, which is why the best defense is practicing computer safety and internet safety.
What are the dangers of the internet?
One of the prevalent dangers of the internet is cybercriminals and the ever-evolving cybercrimes they create. Because so many cybercrimes are launched to target any internet user, its likely that no family member is exempt of such attacks, either. There are many threats children face online, as well as adults and teens.
- Identity theft
- Cyberbullying
- Online predators
- Faulty privacy setting
- Phishing
- Online scams
- Malware
- Inappropriate content
- Bait and switch
Internet safety tips
There are many cyber safety tips parents should know, but internet safety doesn’t stop there. Every family member has to play their part in creating a cyber-safe household. We’ve listed 20 pointers to help your family stay safer online, and who can begin applying them.
Internet safety tips for kids
Whether they’re learning virtually, watching YouTube, or playing games, kids are becoming digital citizens at young age. So, it’s never too early to acquaint them with some internet safety tips.
Tip #1: Know the dangers of the internet
When it comes to cybersecurity, kids are often one of your family’s weakest links — and that can be for lack of knowing the dangers of the internet. Teach kids about suspicious activity online and encourage them to ask for help if something seems unusual.
Tip #2: Remember your identity is important
Sometimes kids make themselves vulnerable to identity theft by disclosing personal information online because they believe they have nothing to lose. A child’s identity can have as much value as an adult’s identity, if not more. Scammers can trick kids into disclosing their Social Security number and other details that can be used to commit identity theft. Remind children not to reveal too much information about themselves. Their date of birth, address, and SSN are all examples of personal information, and they shouldn’t share them freely.
Tip #3: Beware of strangers
Offline, you’ve probably already introduced the idea to your kids that all strangers can be potentially dangerous. Remind them this also applies to their online activities and strangers are on the internet. While teens may be more prone to advances from online predators, kids can be targeted, as well. It’s important to teach them at a young age to be cautious online and tell an adult if someone they don’t know communicates with them or makes them uncomfortable.
Tip #4: Watch out for phishing
You may be sophisticated enough to know not to click on a URL that’s supposedly from your bank or a friend, but does everyone in your household know that? Teach your kids about phishing scams and warn them not to click on URLs in an email or social network message.
Tip #5: Choose strong passwords
Passwords are the primary defense against hackers. Yet, many people reuse the same password for multiple accounts and use passwords that are easy to guess, because they’re also easy to remember. Teach your kids to create a hack-proof password by selecting a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and make sure it’s at least 12 characters long. Never use common words, phrases, or personal information like a phone number or family members’ names.
Internet safety tips for teens
Some teens are often more tech savvy than their parents, but that doesn’t mean they have a strong sense of judgment or have access to all of the tools that can help protect them online. Help keep your tweens and teens cyber safe by introducing them to the following internet safety tips.
Tip #6: Use a password management system
Bolster your password protection with a password management program, which can remember unique passwords for all your accounts. Best of all, with a password manager, you only need to remember one password.
Tip #7: Keep your social media accounts secure
There’s a good chance someone in your house is on a social network. But social media can also attract cyber snoops and identity thieves. Keep a close eye on your social accounts. If someone messages you who hasn’t done so in a while, be suspicious. Your friend’s account may have been hacked. Parents should remind teens to also never meet in person with someone they met online and tell an adult if a stranger is messaging them.
Tip #8: Be careful what you post
It’s important for children, teens, and family members to know how much information is too much information. In their excitement to share milestones, teens may sometimes post their personal information online. For example, a driver’s license or a travel itinerary shared online could be valuable information for identity thieves or burglars. Also personal or inappropriate photos can attract online predators, or could affect future educational or employment opportunities.
Tip #9: Shop online only from secure sites
Whether teens are allowed to shop online is up to their parents. Whether teens will listen is another story. Teach yours how to shop safely online by acquainting them with some indicators of a secure website. One of the best indicators is whether a site is running on HTTPS, which means the site has a security certificate that safeguards visitors’ personal information by encrypting their data. You can verify if a site runs on HTTPS by double-checking the beginning of a URL in the address bar and
also confirming if there’s a padlock next to it.
Tip #10: Keep privacy settings on
Web browsers, mobile operations systems, and social media channels all have settings in place to protect your privacy, and it’s up to you to adjust them. Keeping them turned off means your information might be shared with marketers to help your browsing experience, but it also could be intercepted by hackers. Play it safe and keep your privacy settings on. Parents should adjust kids’ devices accordingly and teach teens how to keep the settings on themselves.
Internet safety tips for parents
There are some computer safety tools and best practices that your kids simply don’t need to worry about. Parents, reference these housekeeping tips to ensure your home is cyber safe.
Tip #11: Understand privacy policies .
… and know that privacy policies may not be private. With more websites and applications collecting information and using it for advertising and marketing purposes, make sure your family knows the value of online privacy. Many apps have privacy policies that disclose that the apps collect and share their users’ information. Kids and many adults often accept these policies without reading them. Even if your settings are set to private, remember nothing is private. Even the so-called private browser is not private. Law enforcement, website administrators, and hackers could have access to your so-called private information.
Tip #12: Backup data regularly
A type of malware, ransomware is popular among cybercriminals who can lock your computer so you can’t access your valuable files, like your private photos or tax information. One of the best ways to combat the threat of ransomware is to backup your data regularly. Backup your kids’ devices, too, and teach your teens to do the same.
Tip #13: Keep your internet connection secure
Almost every member of the family might access your internet connection, and each person may have devices also vying for your Wi-Fi’s attention. It should come as no surprise that hackers also want to use your home Wi-Fi network. Cybercriminals can hack home routers and gain access to various internet-connected devices like home security systems and smart doorbells. Make sure your home Wi-Fi system has a hard-to-crack password and consider cybersecurity software that identifies “intruders” on your network. Finally, a VPN is one of the best ways to ensure your internet connection is secure.
Tip #14: Monitor online activities
Monitoring your kids offline is enough stress. Thankfully, there’s some cybersecurity tools to help you monitor their online activities. Install a cybersecurity software with parental controls on your kids’ devices to block certain features on games, track kids’ location, backup their data, and manage their screen time.
Tip #15: Install a comprehensive cybersecurity suite
To help every family member from clicking on the wrong links and visiting the wrong sites, install a comprehensive cyber safety solution that provides protection for all your family members and their devices. Your smartphone and tablet need as much protection as your computer and laptops. So do your thermostat, smart doorbell, home security system, and other internet-connected devices.
Tip #16: When in doubt, call support
The best security software programs offer 24×7 support. If you have any suspicion you’ve been hacked, call for help. If you think your device is under malware, spyware, or ransomware attack, call for help. A good security suite will have experts to help you resolve your problem.
Internet safety tips for the whole family
It takes a whole family to make a home more cyber safe. The following internet safety tips apply to everyone under your roof.
Tip #17: Be careful what you download
There are more than 1.8 billion websites worldwide, and it’s no secret that some of them have malicious intent. A malicious website is a site that attempts to install malware on your device, meaning anything that will disrupt computer operation, gather your personal information, or allow unauthorized access to your machine. This usually requires some action on your part, but there are also drive-by downloads, whereby a website will attempt to install software on your computer without asking for permission first. Downloading and running security software can help defend against these threats, but it’s also worth knowing how to diagnose if your computer has malware so you can remove malware.
Tip #18: Go private on public Wi-Fi
There are a lot of risks of connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. In addition to keeping your kids and teens attuned to them, it’s important for parents to remind themselves that hackers and cybercriminals consider public Wi-Fi, such as in malls and coffee shops, an easy access point to getting hold of your data. For this reason, always use a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi. Don’t have a VPN? Consider if you can hold off on internet browsing until you are home.
Tip #19: Close unused accounts
Unused accounts can be a rich source of personal information for cybercriminals. Sometimes kids create an account with their first and last name or their birthday in the username.
Cybercriminals can patch these data points together and steal information from other sites that the individual uses. If you think you won’t be revisiting the site, it’s best to close the account.
Tip #20: Spend time online together
A good way to keep your home more cyber safe? Hold all of the family members accountable for their internet safety practices and support one another when someone faces a precarious online situation. As parents, that means monitoring your kids’ behaviors but also showing an interest in the sites they’re visiting and games they’re playing so that you can educate them on whether they’re safe. Keep things transparent by keeping desktop computers in a common area and discouraging kids from playing with tablets just in their rooms.
Bonus tip: Spend time online together by having an online family game night.
While the internet is riddled with risks — and it’s important to be aware of them and the cybersecurity suites to combat them — it’s worth acknowledging there’s also a lot of good online. Virtual learning opportunities, apps that simplify everyday tasks, social media platforms that keep us in touch with loved ones, embrace it all. Just do so with these internet safety tips top of mind to ensure the whole family stays safer online.
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