HECK – I’VE BEEN HACKED

In simple terms online safety refers to the protection of your devices, and the information stored on them, against harm or dissemination. This would be applicable to any device that is capable of connecting to the internet, be it a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone, or any of the multitude of smart devices that populate our everyday lives.

The obvious risk is hacking – an activity that has certainly become more prevalent in recent years. Many people have had a device hacked and when a demand for cash comes through and you are unable or unwilling to pay, your device is wiped and all of your information is deleted.

Other versions of hacking include the encryption of files so you have no access to it until a ransom is paid, usually in Bitcoin or cryptocurrency as this is harder to trace. There is a steady increase in this type of hacking, with the target often being a business or corporation that can ill afford downtime.

A disturbing fact is that there is no guarantee that you will get the encryption key nor that your data will be restored once you have paid the ransom. This type of hack is particularly damaging to businesses and therefore business cybersecurity is extremely important.

Most companies usually protect their networks with anti-virus software and firewalls. However, it is important to also educate the employees on which type of emails or attachments not to open as this usually opens the cyber-door for the hacker. Remember that your online security is often only as strong as the weakest link. Unsuspecting, or less than vigilant staff, can open or click on links that compromise an entire network, so staff training is vital.

Another disturbing risk in terms of online safety revolves around cyberbullying and grooming. As much as children believe they are invincible and would never to succumb to either form of a cyberattack, the statistics speak for themselves.

Social media sites and apps are the most prevalent in cyberbullying attacks. Teaching children to respect others and to monitor the sites they visit is crucial, but the simple act of posting a picture from a holiday or event is enough for someone to leave hurtful messages.

In this age of technology where kids live through their devices and via apps, it is hard to limit their exposure. They will, statistically, at some point be exposed to cyberbullying or at least to malicious comments or unkindness.

Teaching children how to cope and control the assault is the best option. If all else fails, shutting down a social media account may be the best solution. Children, especially younger ones, don’t have the emotional or mental capabilities to manage and process negative input.

Grooming is more sinister as the groomer will usually impersonate a child or teenager and use child friendly sites to make contact. In this way, even if parents are vigilant, it would be difficult to detect anything untoward.

Conversations often start with inconspicuous and broad questions about age, hobbies, school, family and progress into questions regarding sexual experience, with groomers convincing an exchange of erotic materials. However, the child or teen can also unknowingly initiate the grooming process when they partake in websites or forums with lucrative offers such as money in exchange for contact details or intimate photos of themselves.

More education is needed to help children identify grooming. There are very few countries with cyber grooming laws in place, but unless it escalates to a realworld scenario, most offenders are not caught or prosecuted but the child is often left damaged by this interaction..

Potential employers or customers need to know about your expertise and professional background but they don't need to know your personal relationship status or your home address so don’t make this info available online.

Marketers love to know all about you, and so do hackers. Both can learn a lot from your browsing history and social media usage. Web browsers and mobile operating systems have settings available to protect your privacy online. Major platforms like Facebook also have privacy-enhancing settings available. Make sure you have enabled these privacy safeguards and keep them enabled.

You wouldn't choose to walk through a dangerous neighbourhood so, don't visit dangerous sites online. Cybercriminals use lurid content as bait. They know people are sometimes tempted by dubious content and may let their guard down when searching for it. The Internet’s demimonde is filled with hardto-see pitfalls, where one careless click could expose personal data or infect your device with malware

When you go online in a public place, for example by using a public Wi-Fi connection, you have no direct control over its security. Corporate cybersecurity experts worry about “endpoints” – the places where a private network connects to the outside world. Your vulnerable endpoint is your local internet connection. Make sure your device is secure, and when in doubt, wait for a better time. To further improve your internet safety, use a secure virtual private network (VPN) connection. VPN enables you to have a secure connection between your device and an internet server that no one can monitor or access the data that you’re exchanging.

A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware. These are programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information and can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather. Don't download apps that look suspicious or come from a site you don't trust.

A strong password is one that is unique and complex – at least 15 characters long, mixing letters, numbers and special characters.

Only supply banking information to sites that provide secure, encrypted connections. You can identify secure sites by looking for an address that starts with https: (the s stands for secure) rather than simply http: Safe sites may also be marked by a padlock icon next to the address bar.

Any comment or image you share online may stay online forever because removing the original (say, from Twitter) does not remove any copies that other people made. There is no way for you to “take back” a remark you wish you hadn’t made or get rid of that embarrassing selfie you took at a party. Don’t put anything online that you wouldn’t want your mom or a prospective employer to see.

People you meet online are not always who they claim to be. Indeed, they may not even be real. Fake social media profiles are a fashionable way for hackers to cosy up to unwary web users and pick their cyber pockets. Be as cautious and sensible in your online social life as you are in your in-person social life.

Internet security software cannot protect against every threat, but it will detect and remove most malware – though you should make sure it's to date. Be sure to stay current with your operating system's updates and updates to applications you use. They provide a vital layer of security.

Staying vigilant and keeping our software updated is the cornerstone of protecting ourselves and the business that we work for. Nothing is 100% guaranteed, but we can make it a bit harder for hackers. �