Back 2 School

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Today, the digital world touches almost every aspect of life. And school is no exception, with Deloitte reporting that 57% of people taking classes nowadays are doing so online at least some of the time. And as students head back to school, it's essential to equip not only them with the skills to use the internet safely – but also parents and guardians. After all, how can we help our kids stay safe online if we can’t do it either?

And there’s no doubt children need our help. While they are digital natives, according to many studies Generation Z is actually the most likely to fall for online scams, get their accounts hacked, and they are not at all immune to misinformation.

To help you and your family stay safe, we have gathered this quick Internet Safety Course to provide the basics of online security. You might already be familiar with some of it, but a little revising is never out of place – plus threats evolve all the time. The focus is on learning safe internet practices, with security apps serving as a helpful backup. So, let’s dive in!

Lesson 1: Identifying Phishing Attempts

Phishing attempts are one of the most common online threats. They often come as emails or messages that look real – but are traps designed to steal your personal information. Phishing attacks trick you into opening a link, which then directs you to a malicious website. You can encounter phishing links also in YouTube video descriptions and any service with a chat option.

How to recognize phishing: Look out for red flags such as sense of urgency, unfamiliar senders, dodgy links, and requests for personal information. Phishing attacks usually lure you with free stuff, prizes, big discounts – or alternatively shock you with account suspension warnings or payment notifications. Phishing sites look real, but their web addresses often give them away, with typos, odd characters and unknown domains. For example, “microsoft.com” could be written “rnicrosoft.com.ru”.

Verify Sources and avoid clicking: Hover over links to see the actual URL before clicking. On mobile, tap and hold a link. Ensure it matches the legitimate website. For example, a link claiming to be from your bank should direct to the bank's official website. And generally, it’s better to not follow links in messages. Instead, go to the official website through your browser and sign in there.

Backup Tip: An internet security app that blocks malicious web pages can protect you against phishing links even if you unknowingly open one. For example, TalkTalk SuperSafe blocks malicious pages automatically as you browse.

Lesson 2: Safe Browsing Practices

Safe browsing is crucial to avoid falling victim to malicious websites and software, and for protecting privacy.

Use secure websites: Always check for HTTPS. Websites with HTTPS encrypt your data, making it harder for attackers to intercept. This is crucial for login and shopping pages. If you are browsing through a public WiFi network, always use a VPN for protection.

Use VPN on public WiFi: When connecting to a public WiFi at school, café, library, etc., always use VPN that encrypts your web traffic. If you don’t, what you do online and even your passwords may be intercepted by hackers.

Recognize malicious websites: With AI, creating convincing fake websites is easy. That’s why you need to pay attention to URLs, as explained earlier. Also, always be cautious of sites that ask you to insert personal information.

Backup Tip: Internet security blocks malicious downloads automatically. On top, it checks if the websites you’re connecting to are safe, and spots fake web shops.

Lesson 3: Understanding Privacy Settings

Managing privacy settings on social media and other platforms is crucial to control who can see your personal information. On top of privacy and protection, proper privacy settings can also decrease annoying spam requests.

Adjust privacy settings: Review and adjust the privacy settings on your social media accounts. Limit the visibility of your profile so only friends can see your posts. Be cautious about what personal information you share. Don’t accept friend requests from unknown profiles.

Manage permissions: Check app permissions on your devices and disable access to sensitive data for apps that don't need it. Many apps collect data about you, and you might not always know how it’s handled and what is done with it. If you have apps you don’t use anymore, delete them and their related accounts.

Control your digital footprint: Be mindful of the information you post online. Remember that once something is online, it can be difficult or even impossible to remove completely.

Backup Tip: Many social media platforms and apps offer privacy checkup tools to help you review and adjust your settings easily.

Lesson 4: Creating Strong Passwords

A strong password is your first line of defense against unauthorized access to your accounts.

Use unique passwords: Create a different password for each account to prevent a single data breach from compromising multiple accounts. As online accounts often include sensitive personal information, it’s important to protect them. Some accounts, like gaming profiles, can include valuable content you want to protect.

Make passwords complex: Use a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or common words. The longer the password is, the better.

Update quickly: Change your passwords immediately if you suspect an account has been compromised.

Backup Tip: Password managers can securely store and manage your passwords, making it easier to maintain strong, unique passwords across multiple accounts.  TalkTalk SuperSafe has one included and is easy to use over multiple devices.

Lesson 5: Avoiding Malware

Malware can disrupt your device and steal personal information. In fact, 89% of Windows malware aim to steal information. That’s because personal details are valuable to criminals. Thus, preventing malware infections on both computers and mobile devices is essential for safe internet use.

Be cautious with downloads: Don't open email attachments from unknown senders. Download software only from trusted and official websites. Avoid clicking on pop-ups or ads that offer free downloads or prizes.

Keep software updated: Regularly update your operating system, browser, and apps. Updates often include security patches that protect against known vulnerabilities. Enable automatic updates on all platforms and don’t delay any recommended updates.

Use automatic updates: Enable automatic updates for your operating system and apps to ensure you receive the latest security patches without delay.

Backup Tip: Antivirus software can detect and remove malware before it causes harm. TalkTalk SuperSafe updates itself and is always ready to block the latest threats.

Staying safe combines know-how with security apps

By going through this mini course, you will be better equipped to navigate the digital world securely. Even better, you can go through these points together with your children, students, or anyone you like. After all, the online world is getting harder to avoid, so everyone should be familiar with these basics.

But don’t just stop there. As explained in this article, staying safe online combines know-how with security apps. While accidents happen to anyone, security is there to protect against the threats you don’t notice. But instead of getting many separate apps, arm yourself with complete protection in just one app. TalkTalk SuperSafe includes antivirus a password manager, and it protects you against scam websites. And you can get it for your whole family with just one subscription. With TalkTalk SuperSafe you can protect up to 10 devices keeping all of the family’s smartphones, tablets and computers safe. Go to My Account and add SuperSafe to your account. SuperSafe online security is just £6 per month.

Once you’ve selected SuperSafe in My Account, you will receive an email to install the app onto your devices.

Prices correct at time of publishing