Steps for cyber risk reduction

Responsible use and self-regulation

Securing oneself online through responsible use and self-regulation is important. Read the terms and conditions for the use of social media platforms. Do note that you are giving a lot of your personal data when you sign up. Small print often contains hidden clauses waiving privacy rights and allowing the posted content to be sold on.

What to do when Cyber bullied

Children who are bullied online often feel hurt and rejected by their peers, which can lead to low self-esteem and depression.

• Do not respond or retaliate. Be civil.
• Save the evidence. Take “Screen Shots” using the Snipping Tool in Windows. The mobiles also have a feature to take screen shots.
• Talk to a trusted adult or report to authorities
• Block people who bully or make you uncomfortable or who you do not know. All social media platforms have a feature that allows you to block. Do you know where it is? So example in Facebook click on the report option you have an option to BLOCK.

Protection against phishing attacks

• Be cautious with links: If you get an email or notification that you find suspicious, don’t click on its links. It could be a phishing attack. It’s always better to type a website’s address directly into a browser than clicking on a link.
• Watch out for typos: Phishing scams are infamous for having typos. If you receive an email or notification from a reputable company, it should not contain typos.
• Use unique passwords: Many people use the same password for multiple websites. This is a terrible mistake. If your credentials are stolen on one site and you use the same username and/or password on others, it’s simple for the cybercriminal to get into each account.
• Set up a two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication, also known as two-step verification, means that to log in to your account, you need two ways to prove you are who you say you are. It’s like the DMV or bank asking for two forms of ID.
• Have strong security software: Protecting your gadgets with strong security software is a good defense against digital threats.

Protection against Pharming

If a certain website appears to be significantly different than what you expected, you may be the victim of pharming.

• Restart your computer to reset your DNS entries, run an antivirus program, then try connecting to the website again.
• If the website still looks strange, contact your ISP and let them know their DNS server may have been pharmed.

Appropriate action to reduce online risks and threats

Prevent malicious or undesirable contacts through use of

• Preferences
• Privacy tools
• Pop-up blocker

Technology related measures

Good practices to protect accounts and enhance online security:

• Select unique and strong passwords that are difficult to guess
• Do not share passwords
• Learn to block
• Control access
• Install firewall
• Use updated anti-virus software
• Use filtering software
• Use privacy settings and sharing controls

Precautions before disposing equipment

Measures to take before giving away or selling off old mobiles and computers:

• If you wish to transfer information from the old device to your new phone, simply do so before clearing the old one.
• Remove your information from the device you wish to dispose-off as phones tend to allow access to sensitive, personal information by performing a factory reset.
• Removing the SIM and SD cards as these cards also store personal information that a factory reset will not erase. You may also wish to keep your SIM card so that you can retain your old phone number by having the card transferred into your new device.

Once your phone has been rid of personal information, you may now safely dispose of it.

Measures to take before trashing electronic waste

If you must throw away your phone, it is important to do so in a safe, environmentally conscious way. If your phone is not in good enough condition to be given away, do not simply throw it in the trash. Phones contain toxic chemicals that, when a phone is placed in a landfill, may ultimately leach into groundwater and poison the water in surrounding areas. Discarding of phones with the garbage also poses a danger to workers who crush trash.

Look out for programmes for recycling or safe and green disposal of phones or other electronics. These are few but offered increasingly by some mobile phone vendors or technology-centered companies. If such a receptacle cannot be located, contact local health and sanitation agencies and inquire about their preferred means of discarding electronics.

Source : NCPCR's Being Safe Online - Guideline and standard content for raising awareness among children, parents, educators and general public.