Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Protect your passwords
• Method 2 of 4: Using social media and email safely
• Method 3 of 4: Using safe websites and networks
• Method 4 of 4: Ensure security on your smartphone
• Tips

The internet is a big part of many people's daily lives. It's fun, useful and informative, but it can also be dangerous no matter how safe you feel while browsing. By making it a habit to safely navigate your way around the Internet, you can protect your data and identity now and in the future.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Protect your passwords

1. Use strong, unique passwords. When creating a password for your account, make sure to use a mix of numbers, symbols and letters, both uppercase and lowercase. Avoid using the same passwords for multiple accounts. It's harder to remember, but it will protect your data better.
   • Try to abbreviate a sentence. For example: "Soft drinks with dinner keep you awake at night" "Fbh @ EHjSw!"
   • Longer passwords are always stronger, so try a favorite quote or phrase from a song, book, or movie. Remember that some websites limit the length of the password, so keep that in mind.
   • Avoid using obvious passwords, such as "123456" or "password" or information about you that others can easily identify, such as a nickname, your street name, or your pet's name.
2. Use a password manager to keep passwords safe and organized. Password managers automatically generate and store strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts. You just create a master password for the password manager so that the rest of your passwords are protected.
   • Various password managers are freely available, as well as commercial variants (sometimes with more options or stronger security).
   • Examples of popular, reliable password managers are 1Password and LastPass. You can find others by searching online.
   • You can also take advantage of your browser's built-in password synchronization, although these are often considered less secure and more vulnerable to hacking, so use them with some caution.
3. Activate multi-factor verification of your accounts. Multi-factor authentication makes an account even more secure by requiring additional login information, such as a code sent to your phone. Many major email providers and social media accounts provide this service.
   • To find out if an account uses multi-factor authentication, check the site's settings page.
   • This extra step may seem tedious, but it will keep your data more secure than using just a password.
4. Only sign up for accounts from legitimate websites. Be very careful before creating an account on a website, even if it only requires your email address. No matter how secure your passwords are, using passwords on insecure sites will put your data at risk.
   • Avoid websites with spelling mistakes or bad grammar in their addresses, as they can be dangerous, illegal copies of legitimate websites.
   • Also beware of websites with lots of pop-ups or numbers and gibberish in their addresses.
5. Log out of websites if you no longer use them. Logging into a site creates a cookie in your browser that identifies you and, if stolen, can compromise your account. This is especially an issue on sites that store sensitive information such as your bank account or credit card number - so it's best to log out when you're done.
   • Log out of any site you are using on a public computer or network.
   • Log out of any site you use for online banking or shopping, even on your home computer and network.
   • It's usually not a problem to keep your home computer logged into accounts like your email or social media, as long as you make sure to shut down when you get away from it.

Method 2 of 4: Using social media and email safely

1. Make sure your profiles are private. Keeping your social media profiles private can make it more difficult for strangers to contact you or find out your information online. Choose an option that makes your profile visible only to yourself or friends.
   • Go to your account settings and your security or privacy menu to view and change your privacy level.
   • Even if you choose to keep your profile public, make sure to keep crucial information, such as your address and phone number, hidden.
2. See what information on your social media profiles is publicly available. Important information on your account can slip through and be made public, especially if you've recently created or changed an account. To check what is currently accessible to people who are not considered friends, go to the privacy section of your account.
   • Do this every few months to make sure anything that needs to be private stays that way.
3. Before posting, think carefully if you will regret it late. One aspect of internet safety is knowing what is and isn't okay to post. It may feel fine right now to post something inappropriate or provocative, but remember that these posts can be screenshots taken, viewed and shared by people around the world, even if you delete them.
   • As a rule of thumb, ask yourself if what you're posting is something your parents, teachers, or prospective employers should see too. If the answer is no, don't post it.
4. View posts you've tagged before approving them. You can prevent anything harmful or painful from being linked to your account by enabling tag rating. This is especially important if friends' accounts are not set as private; a post or image where they post a tag associated with you can be seen by anyone.
   • Enable tag rating through your privacy settings.
   • You will then be notified when someone links a post to you, after which you have the option to approve the tag and place the post on your own account, or decline the tag.
   • If you are still concerned about an image even after removing your tag, ask whoever posted the image to remove it.
5. Never give out personal information to anyone you have met online. This may seem obvious, but it is still important to remember. No matter how well you think you know someone you've met online, you can never be sure who they are or if they could be dangerous.
   • Never give out contact information such as your name, address, or phone number, as well as any other information that can make it easy to find you, such as your school or workplace.
6. Be careful if you want to make an appointment with someone you met online. It's better not to hook up with people you've only talked to online, but some situations may require it - if you've sold something on Craigslist, for example, or in the case of an online dating site. In these cases, make the appointment in a public place and take someone with you to accompany you.
   • If you can't take anyone with you, tell several people where you will be, with whom and for how long.
   • If you are under 18, never hook up with someone you met online.
7. Use a gender neutral pseudonym on forums. Even private or invite-only forums can be more dangerous than traditional forms of social media, so take extra precautions to protect your identity. Use a gender neutral pseudonym whenever you can, and don't post photos of yourself or links to your other social media accounts.
8. Don't open emails or files from people you don't know. Phishing scammers are people who use fake emails or messages to get you to share personal information. If you see an email with an unknown address, or from an address you know, but with a suspicious message, move it to your spam folder.
   • The email may also contain links that appear legitimate, but never click on them until you can verify that it is a legitimate message.
   • If you know the person whose email was used, tell them their account has been hacked and report the phishing by filing a complaint with the FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
   • Phishing scammers are often after your bank account or social security number, so be extra careful if you get an email asking for money, credentials, or highly personal information.

Method 3 of 4: Using safe websites and networks

1. Avoid websites that look fake or suspicious. If you're even slightly familiar with the Internet, chances are you'll recognize suspicious links when you see them: bad grammar, pop-ups, "bait" headlines, or a suspicious-looking web address. Never click on or download any of these websites.
   • Spending time on these types of websites can cause your computer to catch a virus or crash.
2. Clear your internet history often to ensure your privacy. Many sites have access to your cookies (small text files that record your preferences and interact with websites), often to show you more relevant advertisements. However, cookies can also be used by hackers as a way to steal your personal information.
   • Clear your cookies at least every month or more often, so as not to leave any personal data.
3. Shop online only on encrypted websites. When shopping online or logging into your online bank account, check the URL to make sure it starts with "https" instead of "http". The "s" behind "http" means that the website is secure and your data is encrypted so that it cannot be stolen.
   • Secure sites also have a small padlock symbol in the URL field.
   • While it is useful to store your payment information on a shopping site, you should always do this with caution as the site can be hacked.
4. Use private Wi-Fi networks, never public ones. Public Wi-Fi - such as those found in restaurants, hotels, or airports - are often unsecured, making it easier for someone to hack into your computer. Only use an unsecured network if you absolutely have to and be aware of the risks that this entails.
   • If you often need Wi-Fi on the go, buy a virtual private network (VPN) that allows you to create a secure, private connection from anywhere.
   • Also be careful with the connection via your smartphone. If you can, check with authorized personnel for the name and login requirements of the Wi-Fi before connecting.
5. Use an antivirus extension on your browser. For added security on the Internet, you can download an antivirus extension to check the security of a site or block pop-up ads containing viruses or malicious content. Just remember to download from a legitimate source, such as the Chrome web store, to make sure the extension is safe.
6. Install a firewall to secure your home network. A firewall is an electronic barrier that prevents unauthorized devices from accessing your computer or phone. Many computers already have a firewall installed; go to the section on computer security to check if yours has one.
   • You can also download firewall software for a fee, from authorized resellers such as Norton, McAfee, or Microsoft.
7. Keep the computer software up to date. Most software updates come with security upgrades, so it is important that you have the most current version at all times. To be able to easily download updates as they appear, it is best to enable automatic updates on your computer through the settings.

Method 4 of 4: Ensure security on your smartphone

1. Enable encryption software on your phone. Many smartphones have encryption, which means that their software encrypts your data, so it cannot be opened by unauthorized users. If you want to check if your phone is encrypted, go to the settings and click on the security tab.
   • Auto-encrypted phones include iPhones, newer Androids, and Google's Pixel phones.
   • You can enable encryption software on your Android in the security menu.
   • For extra protection, you can download encryption applications from the app store.
2. Set bluetooth to "undetectable". While your phone's bluetooth isn't as easy to hack as a wireless network, remote hackers can still access your phone when in range. To avoid this, set the Bluetooth standard to "undetectable" so that you don't show up on hackers' radar.
   • If you see an unknown Bluetooth request to pair your device with another device, ignore or decline it immediately.
   • Be especially careful in crowded areas where potential hackers can come within range of your bluetooth, such as restaurants and on public transport.
3. Only download apps from authorized stores. The easiest way to get viruses into your phone is through downloads such as apps. "Official" stores such as the Apple App store or the Google Play store can usually be considered safe places to buy apps, but never download such an app from another website.
   • Don't forget to read the requirements and terms and conditions of each app before installing it. This will likely be time consuming and tedious, but it is important that you know exactly what is being installed on your device.
4. Download security software for extra protection. For the most reliable protection for your smartphone, you can buy a mobile security package. These utilities usually include a firewall and spam protection, as well as GPS tracking to locate a lost or stolen device.
   • Some security packages also come with remote locking capabilities to prevent a stolen phone from being used.

Tips

• Install antivirus and malware protection if possible, as it is one of the most reliable ways to secure your hard drive.
• Get identity theft protection with your credit card company or hire a third-party service. This can help catch some identity theft attempts by notifying you about leaked data or suspicious purchases.
• Don't forget to back up your data in the cloud or on an external hard drive. If your device has been hacked, your data will at least be safely stored elsewhere.
• To add an extra layer of security to your phone, create a PIN or use the fingerprint or facial recognition options. This makes it more difficult to access your data if your phone is lost or stolen.