47_win times july 2021
Digital Safety Keep Yourself Safe Online! The internet is a truly amazing place, and a wonderful resource. In the past one year, the time that we spend on the internet has gone up considerably. We can confidently say that the digital era is truly here. Like everything else, the internet has its risks and dangers, but if we are smart and prudent in our online usage and interactions, we can mitigate these lurking dangers almost completely. In this article, Mishal Faraz, Year 9, lists a few simple but effective tips to keep yourself safe online. 1: Create unique passwords: Creating strong and unique passwords is a must! Ideally, a password should be a combination of numbers, letters in upper case, as well as letters in lower case. Don’t use passwords like your name, your birthdate, your parents’ names, etcetera, as they are super easy to guess. Make sure that your passwords are tough! Set different passwords for each account that you have. Never, EVER, share your passwords with anyone, except your immediate family, and change them regularly. 2: Use a Firewall: A firewall is a software which you can install on your device. It is an electronic barrier that blocks unauthorized access to your account and devices, and makes them safe from cyber-attacks. 3: Beware of Phishing: Phishing is when someone tricks you, and tries to get your personal data and login details, by pretending to be a trustworthy company or organization. A bit like fishing, they are trying to hook you into typing in this information. Phishing will usually come as an email or a direct message, and will be designed to look like groups that you know and trust. 4: Be Alert: If you do not know where a link is leading, or who it is from, there are several risks involved in clicking it. It might try to get you to share your personal details, or it might take you to a sight with malware, a malicious software, which will try to steal information from your device. So make sure that you do not click links that you are not sure of, no matter how tempted you are.
