This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Safer Internet Day: Tuesday February 11

The Internet is an amazing platform. But it’s also important that it be a safe space for families to explore, learn and enjoy together. Keeping the web safe for everyone is a shared responsibility. That’s why Google is working with their partners on Safer Internet Day, to get the word out about good Internet practices and how to best use our tools to keep users safe online.

               

Helping families to be safe while they explore the web is important to us. So, in honor of Safer Internet Day, we have put together a set of tips and tricks to help you stay secure online.

Find out what's happening in South Endwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  1. Filter search results. By turning on SafeSearch in Google Search, you can hide most of the mature content that you or your family may prefer to avoid.  This includes explicit images and videos. You can also lock SafeSearch on your computer by logging into your Google account and changing your settings.
    How? Visit the Search Settings page at www.google.com/preferences and tick the box under “SafeSearch filters”

 

  1. Safe viewing in YouTube. Just as you can filter content in Google Search, you can also restrict the videos that your kids can watch on YouTube. YouTube Safety Mode blocks videos with age-restricted content, so they won’t show up in video search, related videos, playlists, shows and films.
    How? Scroll to the bottom of any YouTube page and click the drop-down menu in the "Safety" section

                                  

Find out what's happening in South Endwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  1. More secure email. Gmail offers two-step verification, which means you’ll need more than just your password to login.  Whenever you sign into Gmail, you’ll be asked for a unique verification code that will be sent to your phone via text, voice call, or our mobile app. So even if your password gets stolen, it’s not enough to access your account.
    How? Set up 2-step verification by clicking your name or picture in the right corner then clicking “Account” followed by “Security”

 

  1. Lock your device. Only 25% of people have their phone on auto lock. Most smartphones and all Android devices can be locked to prevent access by children and unauthorized users. Lock options vary by device but can be a PIN, password, pattern, or even your face (through facial recognition) to unlock your device.
    How? For an Android phone, scroll down to “Personal” then tap on “Security” followed by “Screen Lock”

 

  1. Avoid phishing scams. Phishing scams attempt to acquire personal information through seemingly familiar communications like emails and webpages. Personal information is entered on phishing sites 50% of the time.

How? Don't click on any link you suspect to be malicious, even if sent by someone you really trust and if you’re asked to log in to a familiar website or social media platform, check the URL first.

 

  1. Help prevent viruses. Viruses spread malicious code through a host computer and can corrupt data or impede system performance. They can be hard to detect because they often attach themselves to legitimate files.

How? Use antivirus software and update it regularly. Make sure your children avoid downloading from file-sharing websites and don’t accept files or open email attachments from unknown people.

 

You can find more advice on savvy Internet use including our free Digital Literacy and Citizenship Curriculum by going to the new Google Safety Center or visiting partner websites including Connect Safely, the FTC’s OnGuard Online, Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), and iKeepSafe and many more.

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from South End