Armed, Selfish and Stalkerish - Protecting yourself online

“The internet sucks”, is quite a common sentiment.

According to the 2020 Microsoft Digital Civility Index hundreds of millions of internet users suffer through unwanted contact, bombardment with hoaxes, frauds and scams and are revolted by unwanted sexting. But we must admit, the technology isn’t bad, it’s how it is used.

Sadly, too many are abusing the remarkable, life-altering tool that is the internet. So, what do we do about it?

Apparently, we observe World Safer Internet Day.

The designated purpose of the day is “aimed at promoting safe and positive use of digital technology for all users, especially children and teens”, according to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Everyone is encouraged to play their part in creating a safer, more secure internet.

But let’s dissect that for a moment ... play ‘their’ part. Regulators, corporations, watchdogs associations and the like may (or may not) be pushing for protections. But we, each of us individually, have a role in creating and maintaining a safer internet.

Today, there are people walking around with smartphones devoid of a passcode. SMH.

In addition to the unwanted contact, hoaxes and sexting, participants in the Microsoft Civility Index indicated that they didn’t appreciate being treated unkindly or being trolled. Sigh. Just sigh.

Want to be safer on the internet experience, here are my three best (yet certainly not exhaustive) tips:

Arm Your Devices

Let’s start with the software on the hardware. Keep your computer, tablet, smartphone, modem, router and other connected devices up to date. Updates aren’t nearly as painful as being infected with a virus or having your handset hijacked by malware.

For phones, tablets and computers, update the operating system (OS) and all apps; better yet, turn on automatic updates. For routers, modems and IoT units (this includes your smart TV), periodically update your firmware.

Again, you will complain less about complex, unique passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) for every online service than you will about hackers gaining access to your account and holding your information at ransom.

By this time, it’s highly likely that one of your older passwords is widely available on the Dark Web. If your older password is also your current password, run to go change it right now.

Be Selfish (with your personal info)

Your bank may need your home address and your maiden name, Facebook does not.

So, you’re smart. You already know not to give over your personal details to most social media sites. Good for you.

Then, you get this really cool quiz from your elementary school ‘friend’ that can predict some funny (read: ridiculous) feature about your life. All they need is your hometown and the person you would call first if you won a million dollars.

Be selfish with your personal information

Ha! See what they did there? Be sceptical... about everything.

Stalk Yourself

Are you a hot commodity? Why not check yourself out? You should occasionally research yourself online. See where your name turns up; see who is saying what about you; and see where your details/passwords pop up.

Look out for fake profiles on unfamiliar sites, check out news on password breaches that might affect you and untag yourself in images that don’t bring you joy. If you find a reference that you don’t like, do something about it. I’d be lying if I said you could remove every erroneous reference, but you must at least try.

As Edmund Burke wrote, “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. I challenge you to do something, not just for yourselves, but for the children as well.

World Safer Internet Day starts with you. Arm your devices, be sceptical, stalk yourself and stay safe online.