Internet Safety Tips: Safeguard Your Digital Life

As of Q2 2024, the average person spends 6 hours and 36 minutes online each day—everything from banking to browsing social media. But with all that time comes risk. Follow these top tips to keep your devices and data safe.

Defend Your Computer

• Keep all software (including your browser) up to date with automatic updates.
• Install reputable antivirus and antispyware and never turn off your firewall.
• Think twice before opening attachments or clicking links in unexpected emails, texts, or pop-ups... if in doubt, verify with the sender on another device.

Keep Your Personal Info & Finances Safe

• Never share passwords or account numbers via email, text, or messaging apps. They may not be secure.
• Beware of unsolicited calls, emails, or messages asking for personal or financial details.

Create Strong Passwords & Keep Them Private

• Use long passphrases mixing uppercase, lowercase, numbers & symbols.
• Don’t reuse passwords or PINs across accounts and update them regularly.

Guard Data When You’re on the Go

• Treat public Wi-Fi as risky - use password-protected or encrypted networks whenever possible.
• Double-check network names to avoid fakes (e.g., “micrsoft.com”).
• Encrypt sensitive data on smartphones, laptops, flash drives, and never do financial transactions on public Wi-Fi.

By educating ourselves and our communities, strengthening privacy measures, promoting empathy, and exercising caution, we can create a safer digital landscape. Let's embrace the power of the internet while remaining vigilant to protect our digital lives and foster a secure online environment for everyone.