Why is Online Safety Important and How to Stay Protected

The internet allows us to surf websites from all over the world, stay in touch with old friends,  get a lot of information, and do business, all this and more. Unfortunately, this also brings with it the risk of phishing attacks, viruses and many massive data breaches due to security risks. The key to staying safe online is not to use third-party software. It is about following good online safety practices.

Current attacks on cybersecurity have been rapidly intensifying. According to statistics, cybercrime will be considered to rise from 2024 to 2029 with an overall of $6.4 trillion (source: Statista). Moreover, IBM stated that the total average cost of data breach in 2024 is $4.88 million, a 10% rise over the previous year and the highest in the past years as indicated in the report. Without a doubt, stronger online protection is a key element in responding to these threatening situations.

What is online safety?

Online safety, also known as internet safety or e-safety, is a collection of practices and technologies that aim to defend users from threats related to the internet. This includes protecting users’ data from falling into the wrong hands, steering clear of fishing, and ensuring that online interactions are respectful. Strong passwords, up-to-date software, and staying up-to-date on safety issues are the basic building blocks of online safety. Avoiding threats is only part of the picture, however; online safety promotes a digital culture where users’ privacy and respect are valued.

Why is it important to stay safe online?

Being safe online has become a big issue because many risks could affect your personal and professional life. Below is an overview of the main reasons:

Identity theft & data breaches

Identity theft is the use of someone’s personal details in a criminal attempt at obtaining financial benefits. Stolen identity includes social security numbers, banking information and credit card numbers which may severely hurt someone’s financial condition.

A data breach is an unauthorized exploitation of sensitive data that often causes identity theft as well. Phishing is still one of the main techniques used in identity theft, where the thief tries to make the victim believe that the scammer is a trustworthy entity by asking personal questions.

WOT’s Data Breach Monitoring will send you an alert if your details appear in breaches so that you can take action to limit the fallout. This is a vital tool in the fight against identity theft and data breaches.

Malware and viruses

Malware and viruses are designed to destroy devices or take private data, and they can often gain entry by way of infected downloads, emails or compromised websites. Antivirus software needs to be kept up to date, and care needs to be taken when downloading things. The ‘Wannacry’ ransomware attack, in which more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries were infected, is a potent reminder of just how destructive such attacks can be.

Phishing and scam emails

Phishing scams are designed to fool recipients into providing passwords, credit card details and other sensitive information by impersonating a trusted source. They can include malicious sites, suspicious links or attachments containing malware.

An added bonus for WOT’s Email Protection is its anti-phishing functionalities. It detects phishing attempts before they even reach your inbox and alerts you about unsafe links that might be living within your emails.

What’s more, WOT’s Email Protection comes with Smart Email Detection that is specifically designed to block potential threats and scammers from sending you phishing emails.

Fake websites

Fake websites copy the legit ones. They might look identical to the real thing but are designed to capture login credentials, personal information and, perhaps, install malware on your computer. For instance, scammers sometimes create URLs that differ from the authentic sites by one character. How many others can spot the slight difference in the URLs ‘legitsites.com’ and ‘Iegitsites.com,’ where the uppercase ‘I’ closely resembles a lowercase ‘l’?

WOT has a Safe Browsing feature that checks reputations and alerts users in real-time if a site is unsafe, protecting against online scams and cyber attacks. This additional layer of verification provides a sense of security.

Online safety tips

Everybody is at risk of facing serious issues when using the internet, which is why the importance of online safety cannot be overstated. These tips can help to decrease the risk of cyber threats:

Use strong passwords

Use passwords that are lengthy, that comprise letters, numbers and symbols, and avoid such easily guessed information as birthdates. For the best coin-sucking option, use a password manager that can produce and store secure passwords for all of your accounts.

Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)

MFA requires more than one verifiable point of contact, making getting in illegally difficult even if a password is compromised. In order to access your account, you’ll still need to enter a code sent to your phone or do a biometric scan.

Keep all your software and systems updated

Routine updates often include the release of patches for discovered security vulnerabilities. Keeping your devices and applications up to date is a good way for you to defend against newly discovered threats. It’s also a good idea to turn on automatic updates so you will have protection running all the time.

Verify the website’s reliability

Look for SSL certificates and stay away from sites with URLs not starting with ‘HTTPS’. Reliable sites usually have clear and clean copy and, ideally, some form of address or contact information. Browser extensions and tools such as WebOfTrust will give you assessments of safety using data collected from user votes and algorithmic analysis.

Review your privacy settings

Modify the privacy settings on any of your social media accounts and apps to limit the information you share publicly, and periodically check these settings, since updates can revert the settings to less secure defaults.

Avoid clicking suspicious links

Never click on links or download attachments from strangers or unknown sources. If you’re not sure about an email or message, get in touch with the sender to ask if they intended to send it. Hover over links to see where they actually lead before clicking on them.

Secure all of your devices

Lock devices such as computers and mobile phones using passwords, passcodes, and biometrics so that only you can access them. Set the devices to lock automatically when you’re not used for a certain time.

Regularly backup your data

Make sure that you back up important files to external drives or to the cloud so that you don’t lose everything if malware destroys the hard drive or an internal part fails. Performing backups on a regular schedule should always keep you with a recent copy of any critical data.

Close any unused accounts

You should turn off your old accounts to shrink your digital footprint and create fewer attack points, whose security can’t be as strong as on newer platforms with more current information. When you do your annual account cleanup, look for any additional opportunities to close these vulnerabilities.

Remember: online safety matters big time

Keeping your life private online has never been more important. In this new era of massive cyber attacks, it’s beneficial to keep your data safe by applying the previously mentioned suggestions, as well as using tools such as the WOT. A few simple steps, like keeping your software up to date, and using strong passwords, can greatly improve online security. 

Do all these things today and start securing your digital life. You will be keeping your private information more secure and contributing to a safer internet experience for everyone.

FAQs

What are the common signs of phishing emails?

Spelling and grammar mistakes, threats or requests for urgency, links or attachments, and/or mismatches in embedded email addresses are common red flags in phishing emails. Carefully review the details about who is soliciting you. Look for careless errors in the sender email or uninvited attachments.

How can I check if a website is secure?

Look for ‘HTTPS’ in the URL, and a padlock icon in the browser’s address block. Watch for any security warnings, and avoid all sites that don’t have these signs. You can also check the reputation of sites using WOT.

Should I use public Wi-Fi for online transactions?

Don’t make purchases or engage in other sensitive transactions over public Wi-Fi. And if you must, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your data so it’s not transmitted in the clear for any eavesdropping malefactor to pick up and exploit. VPNs essentially create a secure tunnel for your data traffic through an otherwise public network.

How often should I update my passwords?

Regularly change your password every three months or so. Employ a password manager to generate and safely save unique passwords for each site. Frequently altering passwords diminishes the probability of long-term exposure if credentials are hacked.

What is the importance of online reputation management?

It’s important to protect your reputation online, especially since losing a job or becoming a victim of identity theft could result from your online activity. Watch what you put on the web so that you don’t have a digital footprint that you’ll regret in the future. Check your name online regularly, so you can view what information is public.