How our security expert keeps herself safe online

We do a lot online these days. A Lot. From kicking back and streaming our fave shows to googling our cold symptoms and diagnosing ourselves with an exotic virus that was last recorded in the 14th Century.? ?

While it has simplified and optimised how we do things day-to-day, the internet isn’t without its risks. ‘With online crimes like phishing, identity theft and fraud running rampant, it’s important we remain alert when online’, says Erika C. ?

To keep you on your toes online, here are Erika’s top tips for staying safe online:?

Tip 1: Don’t be a password repeater?

There’s a good chance you’ve heard this one before, but using different passwords across all your services really is the best way to keep them secure.? Thankfully, there are a range of password managing services you can use to store your passwords and save yourself all that memorising. If you’re an Apple user, Erika recommends using the free password manager (located in Settings) that’s built in on all iPhones, iPads and iMacs. If not, 1Password is another great option. You can find out about their plans here. ?

Tip 2: Google yourself (you don’t have to be famous)?

If you haven’t recently, it’s worth jumping online and googling yourself. You might find your Facebook account isn’t as private as you thought, or that your younger self thought the world should be made aware of your emotional state through Coldplay lyrics. ‘If you don’t like what you find, you can always edit your account privacy settings to manage what info can be found online.’ says Erika.?

Tip 3: Rethink clicking on that link?

Before clicking on a link in an email, hover over it with your cursor to see where it’s taking you. ‘If the site address feels suss, one way to tell if it’s legitimate is by checking the spelling.’ says Erika. ‘If there are any typos in it or the URL ends in something like ‘.com.io’ instead of ‘.com.au’ . , tread carefully – it could be a scam site. To triple-check, you can always call the company to confirm if they did, in fact, email you.’?

Tip 4: Invest in anti-virus or firewall software?

Just like us (particularly when we’re googling our cold symptoms), computers can be prone to picking up viruses if not properly protected. While many devices today have inbuilt anti-virus software, some may require a little extra defense. There are many factors to take into consideration when choosing anti-virus software. To narrow it down, Erika suggests looking out for these features:??

• It’s compatible with your device/devices (Windows or MAC)?
• It has automatic updates and automatic scanning?
• It not only detects, but also removes identified malware?

Tip 5: Shop responsibly?

‘If, like me, you’re an online shopper and a sucker for a good bargain on sites like FB Marketplace and Gumtree, always purchase with caution.’ says Erika. When it comes time to pay up, if the seller is asking you to pay via bank transfer or Pay ID, they may be trying to scam you (rude!). Where possible, Erika recommends opting for secure payment methods, like PayPal, to avoid a trick transaction. If you happen to be buying from a retailer you haven’t heard of before, it’s also worth looking them up on Trustpilot or googling their name and ‘scam’ to see if anything fishy shows up.?

With these tips in your back pocket, we hope you can search and scroll with a little more peace of mind. If you’d like to find out more about Safer Internet Day, you can head here?