Safer Internet Day 2022

On Tuesday, 8th of February, 2022, internet users will unite for the 19th annual Safer Internet Day, with actions taking place across the globe to mark the date and promote internet safety best practices. On this day dedicated to advocating for safe and responsible use of technology for young people, we decided to put together this brief guide on how to be safer online. 

Internet Usage Reached Record Levels 

With the world slowly heading back to a new normal and restrictions ending in 2022, many of us are back in the office or hybrid working.

Early 2021 saw an impressive rise in internet usage as we all worked remotely, and it's not surprising that it's still high this year. However, throughout the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, most of us are still using a computer at work and there are still risks with working online no matter where you are.

It is important to drive home the message of staying safe online whether you work at home or in the workplace, as the boundary between personal life and work internet is still there.

We gathered the thoughts of our Cyber Security expert Michael, who was happy to share his advice on how to stay safe online.

Information Sharing

As criminals become more sophisticated with the methods that they use to obtain people’s information, we should really be looking to scale back what we share, how we share it, and how we secure that information.

One of the most important aspects of internet safety is protecting your personal information,which includes: 

• email address
• phone number
• passwords
• address etc.

Some of the best methods of protecting your personal information include:

• Creating different and strong passwords for every account
• Not posting your personal information on social media 
• Not opening suspicious links
• Making sure the site is secure before entering any personal data 

Not being over-zealous in sharing your personal information online, which in any other circumstance you wouldn’t give to a stranger, is one of the best ways to remain safe. 

Be Careful When Sharing Your Location

If you are managing to get out and about more since the restrictions have been lifted, it’s best practice not to post your location online when you are still in the area. This could include geo-tagging enabled on photos that are uploaded to social media platforms, running or cycling routes that are uploaded to social fitness platforms, and “checking-in” to certain locations.

Identity Theft

Information is fast rising as the most valuable commodity on the black market, making identity theft ever more common. Criminals will seek to gain your credentials through any means they can. This can include phishing emails, phishing voice calls (vishing), fake login pages or sites, and could even be something as innocent as signing a register for someone purporting to be a local government representative. It is therefore vital to keep your information-sharing circle small and intimate and use multi-factor authentication on every account possible.

Make Security Steps Part of Your Routine 

In the modern world, where a lot of what we do is in some way online, keeping yourself safe and protected has become essential. More and more people fall victim to cybercriminals who obtain their personal information and steal their identity. Therefore, ensuring that you have the correct procedures in place to protect yourself should be part of your daily routine. 

The Three Golden Rules 

The three golden rules for staying safe online are: 

• Don’t share it
• Enable multi-factor authentication
• Strengthen your password

If you want to learn more about Safer Internet Day, get involved and follow the conversation then head to https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/ or join in on Twitter using the hashtags #SaferInternetDay and #AnInternetWeTrust.

There are masses of useful resources to help you get up to speed with internet safety, including a number of social media guides and advice on separating fact from fiction. 

Should you be looking for support in protecting your business from online threats, why not get in touch with our tech team and discuss our IT & Cyber Security Services?