Safer Internet Day

The internet has become so woven into the fabric of everyday life that it’s easy to get complacent about how you protect your information, how you browse, and how you use social media. Becoming digitally safe takes some effort, but there are three steps you can start today to improve your online security.

Use strong passwords. Weak passwords are the digital equivalent of leaving your front door wide open when you go on vacation. If you’ve run out of ideas for passwords (and who hasn’t at this point?), try an online random password generator.

Limit online purchases to secure sites. Purchases include information about your identity and access to your financial accounts — the two things cybercriminals want most. Check that the URL of the site starts with https: rather than http: (the “s” stands for secure) before entering information. Another indication of a secure site is a padlock icon in front of the web address.

Find your privacy settings … and use them! Privacy settings on social media sites and web browsers are notorious for being complex and hard to find. Fortunately, a quick web search can show you step-by-step instructions (often with pictures) and explain what these settings will (or won’t) do.