The Online Safety Podcast Series

Learn how to help prevent an online attacker from getting your information, and accessing your accounts.Phishing is one of the most common types of online scams, and can happen to anyone. There are five simple tips the average computer user can keep in mind to spot, and thwart these phishing emails.

Ransomware is malicious software that uses encryption to lock you out of your computer and make your files inaccessible. The attacker usually demands payment, and in return, promises to give you back access to your files. Learn about how to help prevent this and the resources available to you if you are ever a victim of a ransomware or malware attack.

Two-factor authentication is an added layer of security used when logging into your accounts, such as email. It’s where access to your online accounts require not just a password but an additional, one-time code, sent to a device you trust, like your phone) as a way of verifying that it is you, and not someone else, trying to access your account.

By now, most people know what a password is. A password is a secret code that you make up, usually with a combination of letters and numbers. It allows you to access your online accounts, such as email or banking. But when it comes to online safety, do you know how to choose passwords that will keep attackers at bay?

The more you engage and interact on the internet, the higher the chances that your privacy and safety could be violated. Learners will explore how someone could gain access to your email account, read your emails, or send emails in your name. How your emails could be read by the email service provider itself.

A web browser is an application that can take you anywhere on the internet. Simply put, it gets information from other places, and displays it on your device. The best browsers can do things to keep your information relatively private: They can stop or warn you before you visit unsecured or unencrypted websites. They can also be automatically updated to keep your browsing safer.

If your device happens to be damaged, compromised, lost or stolen, having a copy of your files on hand will help you get back up and running quickly and easily. Backup software can also help you restore previous versions of files in case you delete or damage them accidentally.

Encryption is a process that makes data inaccessible to anyone who doesn’t have the right key. Encryption is already used in many of the tech products and tools we use today, and forms the basis of security for everything from online shopping and banking, to your messages and browsing.

Software updates can do wonderful things: Protect against emerging security risks, improve your software and battery performance, fix software problems and make your device run more smoothly.

Self-guided Security Check Ups are simple things you can do with software you already have that can make a big difference to your safety online.