Did you know that about seven out of ten Filipinos have Internet access and use it for an average of nine hours and fourteen minutes each day? Filipinos spend more time online to learn, work, have fun, or just doom scroll. This raises the question of how safe we are from online threats and what we can do to protect ourselves. So, here’s Google’s online security tips
Filipinos are becoming more aware of cyber security. According to Google Trends, the Philippines is one of the top three countries and territories that search for “computer virus.” It is also one of the top five countries and territories that search for “phishing,” “privacy,” “identity theft,” “Internet safety,” and “cyberbullying,” among many other terms.
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Strong Passwords
At some point in our lives, we’ve all used birthdays or other important dates as passwords. Scammers know this, so if you’re still using this old trick to remember your password, it’s time to try something else.
Make sure your passwords are long, unique, and easy to remember. Using at least 14 letters, numbers, and symbols, you can protect yourself and your accounts. Wenke said that you could use passphrases, which are long phrases or sentences that you know or are based on a fact or memory and can be turned into a password.
Use separate passcodes on devices and applications so hackers can’t access your other accounts if one is hijacked.
Google Password Manager stores all your website and app passwords if you have difficulties remembering them. “Password Checkup” ensures strong passwords.
Two-Step Verification
Cybercriminals can still find ways to get into your accounts, so more than a strong passcode may be needed. By signing up for two-step verification, you’re giving your accounts an extra layer of protection.
Update your Devices
When you see updates or refresh notifications for an app, do you ignore them or act on them immediately? By keeping your devices up to date, you can keep your accounts, browsers, apps, and document editors safe from security holes.
Control Your Privacy
Google’s Privacy Checkup tool can help you set up your privacy settings and ensure that your data and online activities are safe. You can also control and change the ads you see online through Google’s My Ad Center.
Safe Browsing
Have you seen the grey locked icon in your browser’s URL feed or on HTTPS websites? These are signs that the connection is safe. To protect yourself even more from dangerous links, don’t click on them directly or move your mouse over them to ensure you won’t be taken to a bad site. The best thing to do is type the URL in.
Learning what to look for in a trustworthy website is also a good idea. Wenke told people to watch out for spelling mistakes, claims that sound too good to be true, and low-resolution media, among other things.
Don’t use public WiFi or computers if you need to do something sensitive. So, please use a private connection if you want to use your bank app.
Think twice before you share your name, address, email address, phone number, or credit card number. The same goes for information linked to you, like your medical, educational, financial, or employment data.
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