Internet Safety Basics: Protecting Yourself Online

Dear Techies,

We live so much of our lives online—shopping, learning, banking, and connecting. The internet makes these things easier, but it also exposes us to risks like identity theft, scams, and data leaks.

The good news? Staying safe doesn’t require being a cybersecurity expert. A few consistent habits can protect you better than most people online.

Here’s your quick-start guide to safer browsing and smarter online habits.

1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Weak or repeated passwords are like using the same key for every door you own.
Use different passwords for each account, and make them strong—a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols that can’t be guessed easily.

Try this:
Use a password manager such as 1Password, Bitwarden, Apple Passwords or Google Password Manager. They create and remember secure passwords for you.

2. Turn On Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

This adds a second layer of protection to your logins. Even if someone gets your password, they’ll need a code from your phone or app to access your account.

Start with your email, banking, and social media accounts.
Most services make it easy to enable 2FA from the Security Settings menu.

3. Think Before You Click

Phishing scams are everywhere—emails, texts, and even DMs pretending to be your bank, delivery company, or favourite store.

Watch for:

• Urgent messages or threats (“Your account will close in 24 hours!”)

• Misspelled email addresses or strange links

• Generic greetings like “Dear customer”

If something feels off, don’t click. Go directly to the official site in a new browser tab.

4. Keep Your Devices Updated

Those update reminders protect you from hidden security flaws. Updates fix bugs that hackers use to break in.

Turn on automatic updates for your phone, laptop, and apps so you don’t have to think about it.

5. Be Smart About What You Share

Before posting, ask yourself: Would I share this with a stranger?

Avoid sharing personal details like your birthday, location, or travel plans.
Review your social media privacy settings regularly to control who can see your posts and profile details.

6. Use Public Wi-Fi Carefully

Free Wi-Fi in airports or coffee shops can be risky. Hackers on the same network can see your activity.

If you must use public Wi-Fi:

• Avoid banking or shopping online

• Use your phone’s hotspot instead, or

• Install a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to encrypt your data

7. Back Up Your Data

Backups protect you from accidental loss or ransomware attacks.
Use cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive) or an external hard drive—and schedule automatic backups if possible.

8. Check if You’ve Been in a Data Breach

Go to haveibeenpwned.com and enter your email address. If your data has been exposed, change the affected passwords immediately.
Sign up for alerts to stay informed about future breaches.

Start Small, Stay Consistent

Online safety is less about one big action and more about steady habits.
Start with one step—turn on 2FA, update your software, or install a password manager.

You’ll be safer in five minutes than most people are in a year.

Online safety starts with awareness. Protecting yourself protects everyone in your digital circle. Until next week!

Your Tech Partner,
Ijeoma Ndu, PhD

P.S. Did you know I wrote a book? Tech Savvy Starts Here is available on Amazon—a practical, engaging guide for families and educators helping kids build confidence with technology. Check it out here.

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