Online Safety at Home and in the Community

We’re already into week 3 of National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM)! This week’s theme is Connected Communities and Families: Staying Protected While We Are Always Connected.

Cybersecurity means staying protected in our interconnected world. From banking and shopping to healthcare, social networking and downloading the latest apps ‒ we live robust, online lives. Wherever we are and however we access the digital world, every step we take to be safer will make us, our families and our communities more secure. In our digital lives we may face any number of issues, from preventing or responding to cybercrime, cyberbullying and scams to teaching children to use the Internet more safely, securely and responsibly. We never use the Internet in isolation. Today, we are all digital citizens and need a strong knowledge base and skills to safely navigate our always-connected world. This week, we’re sharing simple ways we can protect ourselves and those around us and what to do if impacted by a breach or cybercrime.

You can better protect your family online by following these tips:

• Create an inventory of all Internet-connected devices in your home.
• Use two-step authentication and long, strong and unique passwords for all accounts where available.
• Own your online presence: use privacy and security settings on web services to share at your comfort level and protect personal information.
• Review privacy settings with children as they set up accounts and decide together which settings provide the appropriate amount of protection.
• Secure your router: Make sure your router has a strong password and does not broadcast who you are through its name, such as “the Jones Family” or “123 Elm Street.,” and has up-to-date software.
• Take action if your personal information is compromised: If you are a victim of cybercrime, report it to law enforcement and other appropriate organizations, such as banks, credit agencies and credit card companies.
• Connect smartly: Before connecting a new device, understand how to use any security and privacy settings and maintain the security of the device.
• Practice STOP. THINK. CONNECT and be sure everyone in the family is taking security precautions, thinking about the consequences of their actions and connecting with more peace of mind.
• Check out the infographic we created to help you keep the Internet safer for you and all digital citizens here.

NCSA has some exciting plans for this week, including the Oct. 14 release of a study on family online safety at an event for public school students, parents and teachers at the Globe Theatre at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Additionally, @STOPTHNKCONNECT will host a Twitter chat, “Digital Parenting: Keep Your Connected Family Safe,” on Oct. 15 at 3 p.m. EDT/noon PDT. Use #ChatSTC to join!

We look forward to the week ahead and hope that you will join us in promoting safer online behavior at home and in the community.