Online safety tips for a secure internet experience

Online safety tips for a secure internet experience

Date: 11/10/24

Author: Gavin Monks

The internet is integral to modern life but it also comes with some challenges and risks. 

Some of these risks such as identity theft, phishing scams, malware, and lack of privacy can be quite damaging when things go wrong. This means it’s extra important to make sure you know what to look out for when using the internet, to stay as safe as possible while online.

In this guide, we’ll give you a rundown of how to implement simple safety practices to protect your personal information and avoid malicious activity on the internet.

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15 essential online safety tips

With technology constantly evolving, staying safe online isn’t always an easy task if you aren’t sure what to look out for. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 15 essential tips to help adults and children alike stay safe online.

1. Always use strong and unique passwords

  • What to do: Create complex passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols — remember to always use different passwords for every account.

What it does: Prevents unauthorised access to your accounts by making it difficult for hackers to guess or crack your password.

2. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible

  • What to do: Activate 2FA on your accounts where available, which requires a second form of verification beyond your password.

What it does: Adds an extra layer of security, ensuring that even if your password is compromised, access is still restricted.

3. Be aware of phishing scams

  • What to do: Learn how to spot phishing emails by looking for suspicious email addresses or social media accounts, poor grammar, and unsolicited attachments or links.

What it does: Protects against attempts to steal personal information by helping you spot, contain or report a scam email/message.

4. Keep your software up to date with the latest patches

  • What to do: Regularly update your operating system, browser, and apps to the latest versions.

What it does: Ensures you have the latest security patches and fixes for known vulnerabilities.

5. Use antivirus software

  • What to do: Install a reputable antivirus and/or anti-malware program such as Norton 360 Premium and keep them updated.

What it does: Detects and removes malicious software that can compromise your system and data before it takes effect.

6. Avoid public WiFi

  • What to do: Don’t access online banking or make online purchases over public WiFi — use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) if you need to.

What it does: Prevents data interception and unauthorised access to your personal information over unsecured networks.

7. Back up your data regularly

  • What to do: Use cloud storage or external hard drives to back up important files and data.

What it does: Ensures you have access to your data even if your device is lost, stolen, or compromised.

8. Don’t share personal information online

  • What to do: Be cautious about sharing personal details on social media and other online platforms.

What it does: Reduces the risk of identity theft and other privacy invasions by minimising the amount of information that’s available.

9. Review privacy settings

  • What to do: Regularly check and adjust the privacy settings on your social media accounts and other online services.

  • What it does: Controls who can see your information and reduces exposure to potential threats.

10. Always use secure websites

  • What to do: Ensure the websites you visit use HTTPS rather than HTTP in their URL, especially when entering sensitive information. This will look like "https://www." in the browser bar.

What it does: Encrypts data transmitted between your browser and the website, protecting it from interception.

11. Try disconnecting when you don’t need to be online

  • What to do: At night, when you’re on holiday, or when you’re just doing other things, disconnect your devices from any network.

What it does: Reduces exposure to online threats when you aren’t looking, helps prevent digital burnouts, and makes it less likely you’ll make a mistake online.



Common online safety pitfalls to avoid

When using the internet, there are some common mistakes that people often make which compromise their safety online that are useful to be aware of:

  • Sharing passwords: You must never share any passwords, especially with people you don’t know and trust in real life, as this puts the security of your accounts at risk.

  • Ignoring security alerts: Make sure you’re paying attention to all alerts from your browser or antivirus software such as Norton™ 360 Premium, as they’ll let you know if there are any critical warnings about security or malicious activity.

  • Using old browsers: You should always be using the latest version of your chosen web browser to ensure you have the latest security features that will protect you against vulnerabilities.

Clicking unknown links: Never click on links in unsolicited emails or messages from unknown sources as this could lead to phishing sites or download malicious software onto your device.



How to stay safe online for kids

The internet has become an important part of life for people of all ages, including children. It’s crucial to make sure that time spent online in these early years is as safe as can be so they can enjoy learning and playing carefree.

Take a look at our top tips below to keep kids as safe as possible whilst they explore the online world.

12. Educate kids about online safety

  • What to do: Teach children about the risks of sharing personal information and the importance of keeping it private.

  • What it does: Helps them understand potential threats and how to avoid them.

13. Set up parental controls

  • What to do: Use parental control software to monitor and restrict children’s online activity. Norton™ 360 Premium comes with helpful features such as Parental Control and SafeCam which make keeping children safe online even easier. Our Linksys WiFi routers even allow you to enable parental control on your home network.

What it does: Limits exposure to inappropriate content and potential predators.

14. Encourage open communication

  • What to do: Foster an environment where children feel comfortable discussing their online experiences with you.

What it does: Allows you to address concerns and guide them in making safe online choices.

15. Supervise kids while online

  • What to do: Regularly check the websites and apps your children are using. If you have a Community Fibre router, we encourage parents to download the Linksys app to give you more control over your WiFi and restrict the hours children can be online.

What it does: Ensures children are accessing age-appropriate and safe content, as well as keeping their internet access controlled for their protection.



Embracing online safety

Following these tips will significantly strengthen your online security and help your whole household enjoy everything the internet has to offer with greater peace of mind.

To further your understanding of online safety and other topics such as digital poverty we have a range of free digital skills resources available on our content hub that you can explore.

To boost your online security, check out our Norton™ 360 Premium package, which offers advanced safety features designed to keep you protected. Pair it with one of our broadband packages to enjoy unbeatable broadband in London, Surrey, and Sussex.