Safer Internet Day: Mindfulness for a Better Internet

The Internet has positively had a remarkable impact on almost every aspect of our lives. With the good, however, there is also the bad and we should remain vigilant to the hazards. Over the years, the world celebrates Safer Internet Day every February to remind everyone about the importance of Safer Internet practices; how to maintain privacy and mindfulness of our online conduct.

When the world went into a pandemic-driven lockdown, for most people, the internet was a godsend. It enabled business continuity, learning, shopping, socializing, and even entertainment during the lockdown. But the question is how safe is the internet considering that there have been so many breaches in the past? One cannot disagree that the rise in smartphones has given internet access to almost anyone. The internet has become an empowering tool and a large part of our life depends on it. But it also has its drawbacks. A lot of unfortunate incidents like cyberbullying, password trafficking, data thefts, phishing etc. are some of the common offences that take place on the internet regularly. So, what is being done to stop these offences on the internet?

Safer Internet initiative needs to be a continual process. There’s a lot more at stake than the way we approach interactions and our activity on the web. The safety focus needs to be emphasized across the community. In fact, everyone should play their part in making the world wide web a safer place. How can you start implementing best practices to improve online safety? It’s important to keep in mind that there is no one solution to the online threats that we face every day especially as technology evolves. However, there are ways to ensure online safety. It begins with educating yourself about current web threats, issues, and challenges:

Focus on Password Safety

Always use a strong password when online. Employers should also urge staff to create different passwords for each account to create further security. It can also be beneficial to use two-factor authentication any time it’s offered, to keep online accounts as safe as possible.

Keep All Gadgets Locked Down

No matter what devices employees use for work including tablets, smartphones, or computers, they should all only be available to one employee. This means all devices should require authentication, such as a password, facial recognition, or fingerprint.

Keep devices updated

Another way to protect employees’ devices regularly is to be sure they have updated features to keep them secure. This includes antivirus software to stop possible cybercrimes from taking place and putting company information at risk.

Remind Employees about Email Safety

Employees are always bound to get emails from unknown senders quite often. Make sure they know not to click on any links or download attachments from those phishing emails. One of the best ways to celebrate Safer Internet Day is to install security awareness training to employees regularly.

These are some small ways of protecting your data safe on the internet. There are various other ways through which you can save yourself and employees from any kind of cybercrime.