The news of Mr. Bradley’s arrest serves as a reminder that the internet is a very dangerous place. The proximity of these events is really frightening, but the reality is that anyone can be affected by something like this. According to the Child Crime Prevention and Safety Center, there are an estimated 500,000 predators online each day. In light of everything, remembering to stay safe online is even more crucial than ever. October is National Cyber Security Month, so to celebrate check out these tips, and keep safe!!
- Have a Strong Password
-A strong password includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Also, make sure to have different passwords for each account, and store them in a secure place.
- Do Not Give Out Personal Information
-If you are talking to someone online, or in a comment section, don’t tell people personal information! Do not tell anyone your age, where you live, or even your name online, because they cannot be trusted.
- Do Not Click on Sketchy or Untrustworthy Links
-Most spam emails include sketchy links that can take you to websites that will infect your device. Don’t open any emails, or click on any links that aren’t from people you know.
- Do Not Join Public Wifi
-This may seem far-fetched, but there are some hackers who can access your device using public networks. They can spread your information and get into your phone, all of which is very bad. So, as a general rule of thumb, don’t join any unsecure networks, because you have no clue what horrors might befall you.
- Do Not Send Explicit Pictures
-I am sure you have all heard the stories about someone sending explicit pictures, and they get leaked. While the people who spread these pictures are horrible, the best way to save yourself from that situation is to not send them at all.
-A good rule of thumb is to not send any pictures or texts that you would not want your grandparents to see!
- Keep Your Location Turned Off on Snapchat
-You know the Snap Map? When you have your location on, all of your friends can see your location on it. This may not seem like a problem, but someone could follow you to one of those locations. Caution is key, so better safe than sorry.
- Do Not Post Pictures of your Shenanigans on Social Media.
-Employers look at your Facebook, Instagram, etc. to see what kind of person you are, and what you enjoy. The internet is forever and having pictures of you being drunk, or anything slightly inappropriate can really hurt your future self.
- Keep your Devices up to Date
-Tech companies are always releasing updates to keep their products secure, and to equip them with the latest features. Along with getting new emojis, you can keep your device super safe!
- Do Not Text Random Numbers for Fun
-That is some random person’s number! You don’t know who that person is, and this goes against all laws of cyber safety!
- If you are a minor, don’t go online.
-The easiest way to prevent anything bad from happening is avoidance. Just don’t go online, and you won’t have any problems.
Follow these tips to stay safe online, and have an awesome National Cyber Safety Month everyone!
