Staying safe online

Online safety is a huge topic. As a start, there are some basic actions you can take, either for yourself or with someone you're supporting.

There are the six actions from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Cyber Aware campaign on staying safe and secure online. You can access alternative formats of these 6 Actions from Lead Scotland.

Use a strong and separate password for your email.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/use-a-strong-and-separate-password-for-email

Create strong passwords using 3 random words.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/three-random-words

Save your passwords in your browser.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/password-managers

Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA).

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/activate-2-step-verification-on-your-email

Update your devices.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/install-the-latest-software-and-app-updates

Back up your data.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/always-back-up-your-most-important-data

Illustration credit: Tessa Mackenzie

You can explore a range of different online safety topics on the Get Safe Online website.

Get to grips with the basics of online safety through online learning portal Learn My Way from Good Things Foundation. This platform can be used to build your own confidence, or used to introduce the topic to someone you’re supporting. The Safety and Security Online module has loads of different topics.

The essentials of online safety are embedded in media literacy. Media literacy is about having the skills and understanding to evaluate what we see and share online.

If you'd like to build solid media literacy foundations, or support someone else, you can follow this 'Media Literacy Learner Pathway' on the Connecting Scotland website.