Easy steps we can take to protect our family against hackers and scams
Life online comes with the risk of falling for scams or hackers attempting to access our devices or accounts. Since it can happen to anyone, staying aware and alert is crucial. We've gathered some of the best advice to help you stay safe.
Share them with your family to build safe online habits and avoid falling for scams. We encourage keeping the conversation going to stay informed and aware of online threats and how to stay safe.
Passwords
Passwords are important! They are the key to our online property, and here are a few good habits to keep in mind.
- Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA).
- Change passwords often.
- Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts.
- Avoid simple, easy-to-guess passwords. The strongest passwords are long and include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Never share passwords or keep them written down in obvious places.
Device security
- Keep software and devices updated.
- Use antivirus software and firewalls.
- Enable parental control settings and talk with your child about not downloading apps or files without approval.
Safe online habits
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments both on websites as well as in emails or messages. Verify with the sender if you receive a suspicious message from a trusted source to ensure it’s legitimate. Be mindful of online ads and pop-ups designed to trick you into clicking the wrong button.
- Be cautious when logging into personal accounts on public networks. Always log out, and never save passwords on a public network.
- Check the URL of the website to confirm it’s the legitimate web address. Fake websites can closely mimic original websites with almost no noticeable differences.
- Be mindful of the type of files you download and only download from trusted and secure websites.
Safe offline habits
- Consider using a webcam cover.
- Create a family safeword to verify messages claiming to be from family members. Scammers using AI tools, can replicate voices for phone call scams.
- Inform contacts if your account has been hacked so they know not to trust messages appearing to come from you.
- Discuss with your family about the latest scams or hacking attempts you notice on websites or in your inbox. Remind each other how to avoid these threats, and encourage your child to ask an adult to double-check before downloading or clicking anything.
