Taguig City, Philippines – [Sept 09, 2024] – The internet has become a valuable tool for students to conduct school research, communicate with teachers, friends, and family, stay active on social media, explore interests, and more. And with the help of smartphones, laptops, and other technologies, the younger generation can easily maintain online connectivity anytime and anywhere. 

While this offers remarkable opportunities for students to learn and grow, it also exposes them to cyber risks, such as cyberbullying, phishing, identity theft, scams, and online predators. This situation is concerning in the Philippines, as the 2022 study by Surfshark revealed that the country ranked second worldwide regarding children’s susceptibility and exposure to cyber threats, following Thailand and preceding Turkey.

Best online practices for students to avoid cyber risks

This upcoming back-to-school season, students will once again rely on the internet for research, communication, and many other purposes. To help protect the younger generation from cybercriminals, Fortinet, the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, shares these internet safety tips for students to help them develop good cyber hygiene and stay safe online.

Access secure connections and links. Using secure connections ensures that a user’s data is safe from cybercriminals. To check if a connection is secure, look for https:// in the URL and a small lock symbol on the left side. Additionally, avoid accessing suspicious links that seem too good to be true, as they might include malware or other malicious content.

Aside from being cautious with links, always read the fine print about privacy settings on websites or applications. This enables users to gain a better understanding of how their data will be used, among other things.

Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. When developing passwords for accounts, it is crucial to ensure that they are easy to remember yet challenging for others to guess. Avoid using sensitive or personally identifiable information in passwords, such as phone numbers, birthdays, and favorite movies or sports teams. For strong passwords, incorporate numbers, symbols, and uppercase and lowercase letters in seemingly random arrangements. Each account should have a unique password. To add extra protection against cybercriminals, even if passwords are compromised, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). This sets an extra step to verify a user’s identity when logging in to an account using physical or mobile application-based tokens.

Ensure devices and applications remain up to date. Cybercriminals often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated applications and devices to access sensitive data. To reduce cyber risks, regularly check for updates to patch vulnerabilities and enhance security features in devices and applications.

Be careful when sharing information and interacting with people online. Content posted online is permanent. Even if deleted. This makes it vital to be cautious about what is posted and the platforms used. Avoid posting personal details and carefully consider the uploaded photos, videos, and other content. Additionally, remain vigilant when interacting with people online. Cybercriminals can easily pretend to be friends or acquaintances to trick unsuspecting individuals into divulging sensitive information or content. Share any uncomfortable interactions encountered online with a trusted adult.

Gain more knowledge to stay safe online with Fortinet

To enhance cybersecurity awareness, Fortinet offers a training curriculum called the Network Security Expert (NSE) program through the Fortinet Training Institute. This multi-level certification program includes the free, self-paced NSE 1 and NSE 2 courses, designed to build cybersecurity awareness among individuals, including students, parents, and educators, to help navigate evolving threats and cybercriminals on the internet.

By fostering cybersecurity awareness and practicing good cyber hygiene, students can safely and responsibly explore the digital landscape and protect themselves from becoming targets of cybercriminals.