How do I stay safe online?
Online Safety
Your safety, not only as a member on HealthUnlocked, but also, a member of the internet, is important to us. Please read this 8 tips which you can implement to make your online experience a safer one. The internet shouldn't be a scary space, we hope by learning how to keep your accounts safe and secure, you will feel more at ease surfing the web.
Not only this, your health experiences have the potential to transform lives and uncover understanding in health. As this may involve you sharing sensitive information about your health, we hope that understand how to stay safe while online will let you share more, help more and feel more secure.
1. Stronger authentication
Such as multi-factor authentication that can use a one-time code texted to a mobile device) helps verify that a member has authorised access to an online account.
2. Have up-to-date security software
Make sure you are kept up to date withal Apps and internet software updates on all your devices. Out of date software makes it easier for scammers and cybercriminals attack your devices.
3. Use the privacy settings available to you
Enable privacy settings to protect your stored data
4. Clear your cookies and browser
Doing so every so often will ensure that information won’t be stored and makes our internet trail less trackable to cybercriminals. Not only this, clearing cookies will make you less vulnerable from unwanted targeted marketing and advertising
5. Be aware
Be sure to spread the word and promote using the internet safely, Make the most of your recourse and keep up to date on the current recommendation about how to use internet and ways to keep you safe.
6. Stay private when using public Wifi Networks
Public Wifi networks do not encrypt their data. Therefore, all information can be easily accessible to other members on the network. Your login details, including passwords and banking details will therefore be more vulnerable. We suggest using s VPN to encrypt your data, reducing the chances of your data being found out
7. Be careful about the pictures you choose to post
We understand a picture says a thousand words. Pictures can be an essential part of the health discussion. HealthUnlocked encourages whatever the member feels most comfortable sharing in order to gain more information and help others. However, as HealthUnlocked is an open site, meaning that posts are searchable by internet search engines and in HealthUnlocked searches, we highly recommend choosing to only share with your ‘community’ when posting photos that could be traceable back to you. We hope by doing so you will be able to get the information you are after, whilst simultaneously helping others.
8. Be careful what you download online
Cybercriminals have primary goal of tricking you into downloading malware to steal personal, private information. Malware can be disguised as anything to it is best to be mindful about anything you download from the internet, especially is the website seems suspicious, glitchy or displays a lot of on screen, pop-up advertisements.
Note: We understand some terminology used in this article may be a little confusing. To help you understand common internet terminology, please read here.