The Internet: a source of LOLs and learning, insight and inspiration. And crime As our lives are increasingly led online, a new age of digital fraudsters are taking advantage of technology to commit all kinds of misdeeds – especially to those less aware of the cybercrime world. From stranger danger and cyberbullying to financial scams and confidence tricks, children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to computer viruses and phishing attacks, as they may not be aware of the dangers of the Internet and what to do to avoid these dangers.
Of course, as a global community, we don’t want to hinder our nearest and dearest from surfing the net, but we face an ongoing and evolving battle to keep them safe.
The best way to tackle the wave of digital lawbreakers is to master the basics yourself. Our quick guide to online safety will:
- Prevent you from becoming another victim in a long line of cybercrime.
- Inspire confidence for you and your family to surf safely.
- Reduce opportunities for criminal exploitation.
What you can do to stop yourself falling foul to new age cyber criminals
- Be aware of over-sharing
We know we can trust our best mates with our lives - but the same doesn’t go for passwords. As every cheesy action movie tells you, “don’t trust anyone.” Passwords are for your eyes only.
Beware of what you’re posting online too - your digital dossier contains snippets of important information that may seem innocuous but can be dynamite to cybercriminals. The National Cyber Security Alliance encourages everyone to share with care – what you post online can last a lifetime!
- Pack your passwords with steel
As simple as it is to set your password to Fluffy, after your squishy pet wonder-kitten, it’s an easy association for any cunning, eagle-eyed cyber criminal to make.
Make sure your passwords are long, strong and unique, brimming with difficult-to-guess factors such as:- Lowercase letters
- Uppercase letters
- Numbers
- Symbols
That’ll outwit them! Using a combination of the above will make hacking passwords a lot more difficult.
- Avoid stranger danger
Many local organizations run regular cyber-schools and courses for those wanting to learn more about staying safe online. KidSmart has lots of useful resources for parents, teachers and kids themselves.Both children and the elderly should be aided in identifying when people they encounter online may not be who they claim to be. Warn them to only chat to people they know and avoid sending pictures of themselves and personal information that might identify them.
When it comes to financial institutions, pop into your elderly relative’s bank and find out what they do and don’t do online. Which has a very clear list of 10 tips to help everyone keep their pennies in their own pockets. - Open the conversationFor anyone vulnerable to abuse or exploitation, the most important thing is to make sure they know they have someone to turn to.
Chat with younger ones about the potential dangers of the web - keep it age-appropriate and answer truthfully. Make them aware of what could happen and tell them to shut down the Internet and come straight to you if anything rattles them.
The Internet - just like the real world - is a source of wonder and enormous potential for knowledge and inspiration. But just like the real world, you need to aid your family and friends in knowing exactly where the small proportion of dangers lurk.
Hi. I’m Designer of Blog Magic. I’m CEO/Founder of ThemeXpose. I’m Creative Art Director, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Industrial Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, StartUp Enthusiast, Speaker, Writer and Photographer. Inspired to make things looks better.
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