May 28, 2025

Stay Safe Online: Essential Cybersecurity Tips for Everyday Internet Users

In today’s digital world, the internet plays a role in nearly every part of our lives—from how we communicate and work remotely to how we bank, shop, and stay entertained. While this constant connectivity offers convenience and opportunity, it also exposes us to greater risks from cybercriminals looking to exploit our personal data.

You wouldn’t leave your front door unlocked or your car keys in the ignition—and the same mindset should apply to your digital life. The information stored on your devices—passwords, financial records, personal photos, and more—is incredibly valuable. In the wrong hands, this data can cause serious and lasting harm. That’s why protecting yourself online is just as important as securing your home or belongings in the physical world.

The good news? You don’t need to be a tech expert to stay safe online. Here are our top suggestions for keeping you and your information safe while online:

Tip 1: Protect Your Passwords!

One of the best things that you can do to be safe online is to use strong, unique passwords for every account you have. We know it might seem easier to use the same password everywhere, we’ve all been there, but when you use the same password for every account it opens you up to a huge security list. It makes it so that If one account is compromised, all your accounts are vulnerable and you’ll need to change all your passwords instead of just one. Here are some tips when creating/using passwords online:

Create complex passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
Don’t use obvious significant names or dates – these make it easier for your password to be hacked.
Never reuse passwords across important accounts like email, banking, or social media.
Use a password manager to help store and create secure passwords. This makes it so you don’t have to worry about remembering all your new passwords as they are all stored safely and securely in your password manager! Companies like LastPass and Bitwarden are both great password manager options.

Tip 2: Setup 2-factor authentication (2FA)

One of the best ways to keep yourself safe is to use 2-factor authentication, especially for accounts or services that have sensitive information such as your address, bank/credit card, or social security information. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your account that not only keeps your account safe but can help alert you to fraudulent activity. It makes it so that even if someone gets ahold of your password, they’ll still need a second code (usually sent to your phone or other trusted device) to log in and access your information. Tips for using 2-factor authentication:

Check your accounts and turn on 2FA on all accounts that offer it—especially for email, banking, and social media accounts where you store the most personal data.
Use an authentication app (like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator) instead of text messages when possible

Tip 3: Don’t Click On Links From Unverified Sources

As technology advances so do the tools that hackers use to get your information! Phishing scams via email and text are among the most common cybersecurity threats that people face on a everyday basis. Scammers are becoming increasingly clever in how they format these emails and texts to make them look even more legitimate. That’s why it’s more important now than ever before to be cautious when opening emails/texts and clicking on the links they contain. Here are some tips to practice when opening emails/texts that you’re not familiar with:

Don’t click links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious senders.
Look out for red flags like spelling errors, urgent language, or unfamiliar addresses.
When in doubt, go directly to the official website instead of clicking a link.
Make sure to always check the email or profile you are getting links from. For most emails and browsers, you can hover over any link or hyperlink with your mouse to see the target URL.
Be wary of any email or message asking for personal data.

Tip 4: Keep Your Software Up to Date

Outdated software can often have security flaws that make it easier for hackers to exploit your devices. That’s why it’s super important to keep your software up to date. This includes any software on your computer and phone, from your operating systems to your browser or apps. Most updates are there to improve the product through bug fixes, adding new features, or security updates. Keep those applications updated! Things to remember to keep your systems up to date:

Regularly update your operating system, browser, and apps.
Enable automatic updates when available.
Don’t ignore update prompts—they’re there for a reason.

Tip 5: Secure Your Social Media and Be Mindful of What You Share

With social media playing such a big role in our daily lives, it’s easy to forget just how much personal information we’re putting out into the world. Unfortunately, oversharing, even unintentionally, can open the door to cybercriminals who use that information to guess passwords, steal your identity, or impersonate you online. Keeping your social media accounts secure and being thoughtful about what you share can go a long way in protecting your digital identity. Here are some tips for staying safe on social media:

Review and update your privacy settings on every social platform you use. Make sure things like your birthday, phone number, home address, and family member details are visible only to people you trust.
Avoid publicly posting sensitive information, including vacation plans or photos that might reveal personal data.
Be mindful before posting any personal data. Once something is live on the internet, it can be hard to remove it.

Tip 6: Secure and Back Up Your Important Documents

Storing sensitive documents like tax forms, credit card details, or health records on your computer can be a risky thing to do—especially if they’re unprotected. If you plan on keeping these files on your computer it’s important to make sure they’re encrypted so that they can’t be easily accessed from your desktop. A better option for storing sensitive documents is to have them on a secure USB drive or external storage device that you can use when you need them without leaving them exposed on your desktop. It’s also important to keep backups of important documents, and other items of importance on your desktop in case you are hacked or infected with ransomware that will make you lose access to all files on your computer. Tips for keeping your documents safe:

Back up your data regularly—ideally using an external hard drive.
Automate your backups when possible.
Store important documents like tax forms, credit card information, and health records on a separate external device like a USB or external hard drive.

Tip 7: Install a Trusted Antivirus or Anti-Malware Software

Installing a reliable antivirus or anti-malware program is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect your devices from cyber threats. These tools constantly scan for suspicious activity, block malicious content, and help prevent viruses, ransomware, and other harmful software from causing damage. Here are some tips for getting Antivirus and Anti-Malware software set up on your computer:

Do your research and only download from trusted, reputable vendors. Avoid free programs that seem too good to be true—they often are.
Keep your software up to date so it can defend against the latest threats.
Run regular scans to catch anything that may have slipped through the cracks. A little maintenance goes a long way in keeping your digital life secure.

Tip 8: Practice Mobile Safety

It might seem like common sense, but with so much of our daily activity happening on smartphones, it’s essential to stay mindful of mobile security. Desktops aren’t the only devices at risk—your phone carries just as much sensitive information, if not more. Here are some important habits to keep in mind when using your mobile devices:

Set a strong, secure passcode or use biometric authentication when available!
Just like with your computer you’ll want to keep your phone’s operating system and apps up to date to patch security vulnerabilities.
Only download apps from trusted sources like the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Don’t share sensitive information through text messages or messaging apps.

Cybersecurity might sound intimidating, but protecting yourself online doesn’t have to be complicated. We hope these tips will help you feel safer and more secure in using all the wonderful things that the internet has to offer! Did any of these tips surprise you? Let us know what you think on our social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn