A day when the world comes together with one vision: Making online experiences better and safer for everyone!

The internet has undoubtedly been an amazing invention that has completely changed our lives. Everything we do can be done online including work, entertainment, shopping, etc. We rely very heavily on the internet today as it makes completing all kinds of tasks considerably faster and easier. However, there is a price for everything. This very boon of getting things done much more quickly and easily has become the bane to our safety.

“The internet has been a boon and a curse for teenagers.” – J. K. Rowling

With the ever-increasing number of internet users, private and sensitive information being passed over the internet has increased enormously. So, Safer Internet Day was introduced to remind us of why we need to stay protected while accessing the internet. It is the brainchild of the company Insafe, which aims to spread awareness on how individuals can stay safe online. 

This year, we will be celebrating Safer Internet Day on the 9th of February. However, it was first initiated in Europe in 2004. By the year 2009, it had spread outside of Europe with the involvement of various committees and businesses worldwide. Soon, this day had risen in significance and started being observed in many different communities throughout the world. Currently, more than 150 countries celebrate Safer Internet Day globally.

Why Safer Internet Day is Important?

In this era of rapid technological advancements, the number of people using the internet has increased beyond imagination. The current generation relies on the internet for almost everything. However, as people continue to venture into digital space and conduct more and more of their personal and professional activities online, it has become a breeding ground for cyber criminals. 

Cyber crime has grown so enormously over the last few years that it has become a massive issue for both government and private sectors. In fact, cyber crime is expected to rise at an unprecedented rate in 2021. According to a report from Cybercrime Magazine, security experts have predicted that cyber crime will cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. And it will cost the global economy $6.1 trillion annually by 2021.

With the increasing number of cyber activities, it is now time that every organization and individual realizes that the implementation of cyber security protocols is the need of the hour. Not doing so can result in the loss of money and valuable personal information including transaction details, payment information, browsing history, and even online inquiries. So, this very internet, which has been so helpful in accelerating our growth, can also be the force that tears down everything we have built and achieved.

How to Celebrate Safer Internet Day?

Everyone is aware of how the internet has drastically changed everything including businesses, education, and the economy. But with online crimes affecting millions of people worldwide every day, it is time for every individual and business to use the internet cautiously and take security measures seriously. So, the first step towards a safer internet is to take certain safety measures when using the internet. You can spread awareness and educate people on how to prepare and react when faced with cyber threats.

Many enterprises choose to celebrate Safer Internet Day by hosting webinars or podcasts about online safety. The day also reminds organizations to reinforce their cyber security protocols to protect themselves and their employees against the prevailing cyber threats. Doing so also helps in preventing the disruption of business operations, stopping the abuse of brand, and retaining the customers’ trust.

How to Protect Your Organization Against Evolving Cyber Threats?

• Enforce strong password policy: Never use the same password for every account. Create strong passwords that consist of more than six characters including a combination of numbers and letters. Also, it is advisable to not share passwords with colleagues or team members. 

• Look out for phishing scams: Avoid clicking on links from an unknown source, regardless of whether it is an email, a text message, or a website. In short, just don’t click on any link without making sure it is safe first.

• Regularly update the software and hardware: Always make sure every system is up-to-date with the latest security updates and patches. It is recommended that you upgrade to a newer version as frequently as you can. In order to do so, you can also switch your systems to the auto-update mode.

• Educate the employees: Even if your organization is spending millions of dollars on securing the IT infrastructure, everything depends on how cyber aware your employees are. And, in order to make employees aware of their responsibilities towards security protocols, organizations need to provide cyber security awareness training. It helps them understand what to look out for and how to react when a cyber attack occurs.

• Stay up-to-date: In order to implement the right security measures, organizations will also need to stay up-to-date with the latest cyber security-related news. It helps you in finding how organizations around the world are keeping up with the ever-evolving cyber threats.

Let’s not wait for another cyber attack to take place or another Safer Internet Day to remind us of how important it is to have security protocols in place. Let’s unite to implement necessary security measures to safeguard both organizations and individuals from the threats plaguing the online world.

The post Safer Internet Day: The Future is Digital, Let’s Keep it Safe! appeared first on Kratikal Blog.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from Kratikal Blog authored by Richard Singha. Read the original post at: https://www.kratikal.com/blog/safer-internet-day-the-future-is-digital-lets-keep-it-safe/