In today’s digital world, cyberspace is a powerful tool that can be used for good or bad. You must have heard of people whose money stored in their bank accounts was stolen, or of people who have been blackmailed for money on the internet in the past.
In fact, it is upon us to promote responsible cyberspace use and create a safe environment for everyone. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to promote cyber safety and responsible cyberspace use, so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of the digital world.
To begin with, cybercrime is a crime that involves a computer or a network of computers. These crimes substantially affect the privacy, security, or money of the victim.
Therefore, how do we advocate for a safer cyberspace with minimal cybercrimes?
Let me divide this blog post into five segments:
#1. Confront the Cyber Threats Children Face.
Surprisingly, children are perhaps the most vulnerable to cybercrimes because they are unaware of how easily hackers can exploit them through the internet. Here are some things that can be done to avoid the same:
- Parents and guardians should monitor their children’s online activity. They need to talk to their children about online safety issues so that they do not end up making bad choices while online.
- To make things more strict, parents can enable parental controls and safe search options. It doesn’t allow a child to access specific links, websites or apps.
- Advising children to not click any pop-up ads or notifications would also help.
- Help them fully understand the privacy settings on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
- Install antivirus protection and a firewall on your child’s device.
#2. Think Before You Click.
As for adults, the same things apply as well. Thinking before clicking is what most people SHOULD do, but unfortunately, most don’t.
These links or notifications have the same aim—to get information, usually private, out of you. This is called phishing, and we are more likely to fall for it than we think. Thus, avoid opening unknown emails and clicking on suspicious links.
#3. Keep Your Software Up To Date.
Since almost every adult has access to mobiles, tablets, and laptops these days, the least that can be done is keeping the software up to date with the latest fixes. Turning on automatic software updates can help lower the chances of being attacked on the device.
#4. Have Stronger Passwords!
Using strong passwords is an underrated way to have a better chance of staying safe on the internet. Do you know that the most common password is “password” followed by “123456”? It is due to such passwords that hackers get their job done easily.
Some tips to create a strong password are:
- Make sure the password is long.
- The minimum length ought to be at least 15 characters.
- Ensure that the password is unique in its keyword.
- Avoid using your child’s or pet’s name as your password.
- Make sure that the password is random with multiple special characters.
#5. Keep Backing Your Data.
In case you become a victim of malware or ransomware, backups are what will save you from losing your precious data. It is sufficient to have a single backup in most cases, but if you’re someone more concerned about your data than an average person, consider making three copies of your data—one on the local drive, another one on the external hard drive, and the third in your cloud storage.
Cybercriminals are getting savage by the day. They can get into your computer or networks undetected and steal all your data without leaving a trace behind. Therefore, while using the internet, it is important to keep all the precautions written above in mind to safeguard your privacy and maintain security.
Hope you have a safe time browsing!
I know this blog was a little boring. 😅
This was my entry for the Eraksha Word Hack conducted in 2022, which I wanted to share on my blog page. The topic of the blog writing contest was “Promoting Safer, Responsible and Peaceful Cyber Space.”
New stories coming up on my blog soon!
Check out my other blogs here before you leave.
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