Staying safe online doesn’t require you to make a significant monetary investment or hire a professional cybersecurity expert. Sure, robust anti-virus software will go a long way, as will good browsing habits. But there are simple actions people can take to stay safe online whether they are connecting from home, work, or on the go.

So, how exactly do you go about securing your digital life? Thankfully, there are reliable, free tools available, and many cybersecurity practices can now be automated. Keep reading to learn how to protect your information and secure your systems and devices with some simple tips and valuable resources.

Although not everyone takes the necessary steps to stay secure for various reasons, a solid 84% of participants consider their online security a priority. This is not surprising considering approximately half (47%) of the participants have ten or more sensitive online accounts, such as primary email accounts and those connected to online payments. Whether you are paying your bills, shopping for Christmas gifts, or logging into your favorite online casino like the ones reviewed by bonus.ca, it's important to use a unique password for each account. Having so many sensitive accounts often leads people to reuse passwords across multiple platforms—a big no-no when it comes to password hygiene. It's not hard to understand why this is poor form. If one account is compromised, all accounts are vulnerable if a user engages in password recycling.

While there is certainly a knowledge gap among the different generations online today, the older the person is, generally speaking, the more likely they are to believe that online security is worth the effort. Believing cybersecurity is important and knowing how to stay secure, however, are two different things. Of those surveyed, one in three said they often feel overwhelmed by information about cybersecurity. This is likely due to a lack of access to quality cybersecurity training. When asked, “Do you have access to cybersecurity training (e.g., at work, school, or library)?” an astonishing 64% noted that they lacked access to any kind of training. It turns out that most people receiving training today on staying safe online are students and those who are actively employed. Just 8% of retirees and 15% of unemployed persons reported having access to cybersecurity training. Judging by those figures, communities need to work harder to provide access to training for everyone to fill the digital safety knowledge gap.

1. Maintaining Good Password Hygiene
Creating distinct passwords for each sensitive online account, managing passwords with browser extensions or standalone apps, and regularly changing passwords are all ways to practice good password hygiene.

2. Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-Factor Authentication, also known as Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), is the process of logging into an account using two or more pieces of information. This can be a code that is obtained by using an authenticator app, or it can be a password and code sent to a phone.

3. Identifying and Reporting Phishing Attempts
To obtain money or data from victims, cybercriminals deceive them into divulging personal information or installing risky software. This is frequently accomplished by sending fraudulent emails that look to be from reliable senders, enticing recipients to click on dubious links or open malicious attachments. Take the time and make the effort to report phishing attacks so law enforcement can take the necessary action.

4. Ensuring Your Software Is Up to Date
It is imperative to constantly integrate the most recent updates and patches. Pursue supplementary measures of safeguarding, such as email verification and intrusion prevention software, and enable them to automatically update on all your devices. In regards to smartphones, manual updating may be necessary.

5. Backing Up Your Data
Make it a part of your daily routine or business operations to consistently back up crucial data and ensure that these backups remain isolated from the network. This precaution will serve you in the event of a phishing attack, granting you the ability to restore invaluable information if hackers breach your system.