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Something all generations have in common is the desire to stay connected. When it comes to being online, however, there are a lot of threats like phishing  that can make staying social difficult. Need help staying secure? Millennials can help – in fact, 82% of this generation is confident in knowing how to identify a phishing email or malicious link ! Here’s a glimpse of what we’re covering in week three to help you become part of Generation Cyber Safe.

Phishing

Phishing is a common tactic that cyber criminals use to steal personal and financial information. Phishing messages are unsolicited messages from cyber criminals who pretend to be someone they are not, like your bank. Cyber criminals have become increasingly sophisticated in their phishing campaigns, which is why it’s so important to learn the signs. This week, we’re discussing different ways you can spot phishing and how to be cautious online.

Social media

Social media platforms are a great way to stay in touch with family and connect with friends. But if you aren’t careful online, social media  can also be an easy way for cyber criminals to learn more about you so they can steal your information. There are different ways to stay safe online, like spotting phishing, reviewing privacy settings and keeping your personal information private.

Social engineering

Social engineering is a form of phishing used by cyber criminals to steal sensitive information by manipulating victims. For example, a cyber criminal may contact you by email or over the phone using facts that you have made public (like posting where you work on social media) to make their request seem legitimate. This week, find out how to spot social engineering  and how to protect your personal information from being exploited.

Identity theft and protecting your digital identity

Your digital identity is an online record of your personal information. It could include something as simple as your email address or social media account, or more sensitive information like your social insurance number (SIN), passwords and even your financial information. Explore ways to protect your digital identity like knowing how to spot phishing, keeping your information private, securing your accounts and more.

Artificial intelligence (AI) generated content

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) generated content can make it more difficult to determine whether something you see online is real or fake. Even if you don’t believe what you see, disinformation can create doubt and cause confusion. There are tools that can help fact check disinformation like reverse image searching and tips on how to spot spoofing  and other scams.

Conclusion

You can be part of Generation Cyber Safe by learning how to stay safe while connecting with others online! Learn more this week by getting familiar with the signs of phishing and social engineering, safe social media habits and learning how to spot AI-generated content.

Every generation needs the right tools to succeed, especially when it comes to staying safe online. Becoming part of Generation Cyber Safe means getting familiar with the tools and resources needed to protect yourself from cyber threats. This is a great time to talk to the Gen Zs in your life, as 88% of this generation uses tools like multi-factor authentication  (MFA) regularly! Here are some of the topics for this week.

Anti-virus protection

Anti-virus software  is one of the best ways to protect your computer against viruses and malware . It works by scanning your devices to detect, identify and remove malicious files. Some anti-virus software  can also warn you of malicious websites and monitor suspicious program behaviours. Discover how to choose the right anti-virus software for your needs.

Automatic updates

Keeping your operating system and software updated is one of the easiest ways to protect your devices and your information from cyber threats. Updates fix security issues and add new features that allow you to get more out of your device. Find out why enabling automatic updates for all software on your devices can make cyber safety even easier.

Virtual private network (VPN)

A virtual private network (VPN) is a secure connection between your device and the internet. A VPN provides you with additional security and privacy while you’re online by securing and encrypting your data. This can be helpful when you’re connecting to an unsecured network , like the free Wi-Fi  at your favourite coffee shop. Discover how and why a VPN is a critical tool to help you get cyber safe.

Cyber security awareness training

Cyber security awareness and training is important at home, school and work. You can become a cyber champion by encouraging challenges or activities that get everyone involved – like seeing who can report the most scam emails in a month. This week, be sure to look into cyber security training resources like the Cyber Centre’s free online training course.

Malware and ransomware

Malware, or malicious software, is a common method that cyber criminals use to infect systems and devices. Ransomware is a form of malware that infects your computer or device and locks you out of accessing the system and files. Cyber criminals will trick you into downloading ransomware  by disguising links or downloadable files to look legitimate. Find out about the methods and tools you can use to protect yourself.

Conclusion

The right tools and training can help you become part of Generation Cyber Safe! Learn more about anti-virus  protection, automatic updates, VPNs and how to protect yourself from threats like malware and ransomware.