Security & Safety Resource Center

Maintaining Facebook security can be challenging due to the complex nature of the company’s applications. It’s likely that you’ve logged into Facebook from various devices and apps, hence the necessity to frequently check these connections. Navigate to the Security tab on Facebook’s Settings page to view your active sessions and the associated browsers and apps. Disconnect any that you don’t recognize.

If you’re concerned about unauthorized access to your Gmail account, due to forgetting to log out from a shared computer or noticing suspicious activity, there’s an easy solution. At the base of the Gmail web application, there’s a section labeled “account activity” with an associated link. By clicking this link, you will be directed to a page that allows you to force a sign out from your Google account on all devices where you’re currently logged in.

Have you ever received an email with an attachment bearing the .html or .htm extension? These extensions denote web pages. Clicking on them will redirect you to an external website. It’s crucial to approach such attachments with caution because their destinations may be unknown. Avoid clicking on them if you can. If necessary, request the sender to provide a link to a cloud service, such as Google Drive, as an alternative. Or try an Internet Security Software like Total Defense Premium with anti-phishing technology that blocks suspicious websites.

Online banking is designed to be both secure and user-friendly. However, numerous fraudulent sites exist with the intent to pilfer your personal information. Remember that a genuine bank will never request your card number or PIN as part of the login process, although security questions or confirmation through a trusted secondary device may be required. Always ensure that any banking site utilizes HTTPS encryption, which can be verified by a padlock symbol in the URL bar. For optimal security, consider using your bank’s official mobile application.

A fair amount of people browsing the internet on one device will come across a site that they want to access on another piece of technology and manually send the URL between the devices. Fortunately, there’s a shortcut that effectively removes this middleman. In Chrome, computer users can simply right-click the URL in the browser address and right-click it. Then, tap “Send To [device name].” You can also right-click anywhere on the page and tap “Create QR Code for this page.” You’ll see a code appear on the screen, which you can scan using your phone’s camera app.

Consider engaging in joint activities, such as playing games, exploring a mutually interesting topic (like potential family holiday destinations, shared hobbies, or a historical personality), or compiling a family newsletter. This approach not only allows you to monitor your child’s online behavior, but also helps you instill good digital habits in them. Additionally, it fosters open communication and mutual understanding about online safety which can help to protect against future cyber threats.

Lots of smartphone users switch their display to dark mode because they find it easier on the eyes. But, it can conserve your battery life, too. Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices use individual light-emitting diodes to light the screen, which means that less electricity is used in dark mode because fewer bulbs are at work.

In fact, researchers at Purdue concluded in a 2021 study that OLED screens utilize between 44% and 73% of the device’s total battery when light mode is activated at maximum brightness. Keeping the phone at 100% brightness but in dark mode reduces power consumption by over 40%.

Many people overlook this text editing application’s handiness, but it has a range of useful functions in Windows 10 and 11. For example, you can use the “Edit” tab to automatically add a time and date rather than manually writing it in the note. You can also utilize the .LOG function to automatically record the time at which you update the note, which can be very useful for meeting minutes if you’re not employing software for that purpose.

Keeping files on your PC’s local network takes up storage space which can cause the computer to slow down. You free up more data storage when you migrate your documents, photos, videos and more to a cloud storage server. This extra space will allow your device to run more smoothly and process information faster. Moreover, having your files accessible in the cloud means you can retrieve or collaborate on them from any location, provided you have an internet connection.

Although public Wi-Fi networks are readily available in most places, there are times when people need to use mobile data. Often, we may not get a strong enough signal on a 4G or 5G network. You can get around this problem by manually switching your phone to a 2G or 3G bandwidth.

Android users can do this by entering “Network Settings,” then “SIM Card Settings,” followed by tapping “Preferred Network Type” and choosing the desired option. iPhone users will be able to change their bandwidth settings by going to “Settings” and then “Mobile Data,” followed by “Mobile Data Options” and “Voice & Data.”

Many remote workers tend to stay logged into company applications (such as email and project management platforms) when they’ve finished their work for the day. However, staying logged in when you’re not actively working can lead to security risks.

That’s because your anti-malware software alerts you when there may be cyber threats and you can respond timeously when you receive the notifications. By contrast, such potential incidents could go unnoticed when you’re not at your PC, which can jeopardize company data.

Do you use Gmail? If the answer is yes, then it is highly recommended to establish two-factor authentication. This additional layer of security ensures that a purloined password alone will not grant an intruder access to your account. You have the option to confirm every new login attempt via an SMS or, for a more secure option, through the Gmail mobile app. Additionally, you can consider using a physical security key for the utmost level of protection against potential breaches.

Many establishments like airports have charging stations with USB plugs that you can use to charge vapes, e-readers, laptops, tablets and phones. However, threat actors can load malware onto these ports to “juice-jack” — accessing and stealing data from devices being charged. Carry a charged portable power bank with you to charge your devices on the go rather than using these public plugs.

Many Wi-Fi routers give the Wi-Fi’s owner the option to create a guest network for people who visit. These allow guests to access and use the internet, but they can’t access other connected resources like shared folders or connected devices such as printers.

To set one up, access your router’s management software (usually accessible through your ISP’s site) and enter your router’s IP address, followed by your username and password. You’ll typically find guest network options in a dedicated section or under wireless settings. From there, you can create it, assign a name and assign a password.

A combination of multiple digital devices can result in high levels of energy use, which has a negative impact on the environment and can also lead to high utility bills. Smart meters record metrics like voltage, power factors and energy consumption in near time and communicate these numbers to the user over Wi-Fi. This enables people to adjust their usage as needed.

Phishing is a type of online scam designed to get you to reveal personal information such as credit card numbers and passwords. Chrome’s PhishDetector detects phishing attacks on online banking websites. Similarly, PhishTector identifies phishing emails in Gmail.

Microsoft has introduced the “Microsoft Family Safety” app to help guardians control minors’ digital activity on devices with Windows. It enables adults to set screen time limits, filter out inappropriate content, create activity reports to assess online habits and switch on location sharing to track devices’ whereabouts.

Your PC will always be at risk of falling victim to malware or hacking, to some extent. You can encrypt your files and folders by right-clicking them and selecting “Properties.” Choose the “Security” tab, and hit “Advanced.”

Then, check the box next to “Encrypt contents to secure data.” Click “OK” to close the window, and then hit “Apply” and, lastly, “OK” again. This process will mean only a user with the correct key can access the file or folder.

Many websites propose to store your card details for future transactions. While this offers convenience, it also carries a certain level of risk. In the event of a security breach, your card information could potentially be stolen and misused for fraudulent purchases. An alternative to this would be to manually input your card details with each transaction or opt for a more secure payment method like Apple Pay or Google Pay, provided they are accepted.

Old apps you no longer use (also called zombie apps) can present a security risk because you might not have updated your privacy settings on them. Android users can go into the Google Play Store, select “My Apps and Games” and sort them by “Last Used” to see the oldest ones.

iPhone users can go to Settings, then into “General” and “iPhone Storage” to see the date they last used an app. Before you remove the app, though, go into it to delete or disable your account that contains all your data.

Are you concerned that someone might be attempting to access your Facebook account? To alleviate this worry, it’s recommended to set up login alerts. This can be accomplished either on Facebook’s primary website or within its app, specifically under the ‘Security and Login’ section. By enabling these alerts, you’ll receive either an email or a Facebook notification on your trusted device whenever a dubious attempt to log in to your account is detected.

Our digital screens project lots of blue light that our brains interpret as daytime, which is why it’s advisable not to use them an hour before we plan to go to sleep. Most laptops and smartphones have a “night shift” setting that automatically converts your screen’s color to warmer ones during specified hours so that less harsh blue light enters your eyes.

While debit cards might seem like a great substitute for credit cards, given that they don’t accumulate interest-bearing debt, they might pose a higher risk in the event of compromise. This is due to the fact that unauthorized access might directly affect your funds, and the options for resolving such issues are limited. For online purchases, it is advisable to use a credit card that offers robust fraud protection.

These are short spikes of greater voltage coming through electrical wires and into connected devices. They most commonly occur due to faulty wiring, lightning spikes or when electricity is restored after an outage.

Modern electronics are very sensitive and can be damaged by surges to the point that they break entirely. You can avoid this kind of damage by purchasing a surge protector that you plug into your plug point, and then you insert your device cables into the protector.

Windows 10 and 11 may show you a black screen after you’ve started up your device, which causes it to shut down again. In Windows 10 and 11, you can press the Windows key and the “P” key or use the “Ctrl + Alt + Del” shortcut. This will allow you to switch to another screen or troubleshoot the issue by accessing the Task Manager.

It’s advisable not to let the battery drop below 20% before charging it. Then, avoid charging it beyond 80%. This may seem counterintuitive, but charging a mobile phone to 100% can put the battery under extra stress, which can cause damage to the hardware.

To avoid intrusive mobile ads that forcefully redirect you to other pages falsely claiming you’ve won a prize, consider using a browser extension or a privacy-oriented browser. These ads can appear while you’re simply browsing a website. Reliable solutions include adding an extension to browsers like Safari on iOS or utilizing privacy-focused, content-filtering browsers such as Brave on Android. Additionally, network-level tools like Pi-hole can block such ads across your entire home network, enhancing your online security significantly.

Having many programs that open automatically when you turn on your desktop or laptop can slow down the startup process. Removing unnecessary ones helps to increase startup speed. In Windows, go to your settings and select “Apps” and then “Startup.” Just hit the toggle to turn off the ones you don’t need. For Mac users, navigate to “System Preferences,” select “Users & Groups,” and go to your username. Underneath “Login Items,” uncheck any programs not necessary during startup.

Scanning applications for smartphones use the device’s camera to scan the physical copy and convert it to a PDF file you can send via email or a messaging app or save to your cloud. They also adjust and enhance the image. Adobe has Android and Apple-friendly versions. Additionally, these apps often provide features like text recognition, making your scanned files easy to search and navigate.

In Windows, enter the Control Panel, and click “Network and Internet.” Then, go to the “Network and Sharing Center”, and select the network name next to “Connections.”  Choose “Wireless Properties” from “Wi-Fi Status,” and click on the “Security” tab, then hit “Show Characters.” This will promptly reveal your Wi-Fi password, which is hidden under Network Security Key.