The internet can often feel like a confusing place, full of strange symbols, hidden risks, and a language that seems to change every day. If you feel this way, it isn’t because you’re “bad with tech”, it’s because of how you entered the digital world. Most young people today are “Digital Natives”; they were born into this world and speak its language instinctively.
Many of us, however, are “Digital Immigrants.” We grew up in a world of paper maps, landline phones, and face-to-face handshakes. We have “migrated” into this new digital territory later in life.
Almost all Apps and Websites you come across when online - will require a username and password to validate who you are. The username is typically your email address - and the password is the secret word/number/combination that you make up.
It’s critical to think about a password in the same way you think about your house keys. It is really important that you don’t share your password with anyone. No legitimate company (such as your bank, your email provider, the water company, or anyone claiming to be tech-support) will ever ask you for the password.
In the same way that the postman would never ask for a copy of your house keys.
When you create a password - let’s say for example in Facebook - then Facebook store that password in their online-safe, and they encrypt it stop other people being able to read it. Encryption just means converting it into a code so it can’t be easily read. Think Enigma machine, or egyption hieroglyphs, therefore the casual observer cannot read the password.
The danger often comes if a company like Facebook is the victim of a hack, or data robbery. When a thief breaks in to Facebook and steals the list of usernames and passwords. The passwords are encrypted so the theif now has to decypher the encrypted passwords.
Generally, with passwords, the longer they are = the better. Also mixing up lower-case, with upper-case, and adding in numbers and symbols, makes it much harder for a theif to decrypt it.
The trick is thinking about a password that is long and complex so the theif finds it harder to decrypt, but is easy for you to rember and type in.
So:
A great passphrase could be based on a song line you like, or favourite memory. For example Im walking on sunshine!! or The sunset over Pathos! contain a mixture of upper and lower case, symbols and spaces which make it much harder to decrypt.
This adds a “second lock” to your accounts. Even if someone steals your password, they can’t get in without the special code sent to your phone.
If you receive an unexpected email or text with a link, don’t click it. Scammers often pretend to be banks, Amazon, or the government to steal your login info.
Scammers want you to panic. If a message says “Your account will be deleted” or “You are in legal trouble,” it is almost certainly a scam. Stop, breathe, and call a friend.
Before typing in a credit card number, check the web address bar. It should start with https:// and show a small padlock icon, indicating a secure connection.
When your phone or computer asks to “Update,” say Yes. These updates contain vital security patches that keep hackers out.
Never share your Social Security number, bank PINs, or passwords over email, text, or social media. Legitimate companies will never ask for these via message.
When searching on Google, the first few results are often Ads. These can sometimes lead to fake sites. Look for the results that don’t have the “Ad” or “Sponsored” label.
Avoid those “What is your pet’s name?” quizzes—they are often used to guess your security questions. Only accept friend requests from people you know personally.
If something feels suspicious, ask for a second opinion. Call a tech-savvy family member or friend before you pay for anything or download a new program.
⚠️ Red Flag Warning: No legitimate business or government agency will ever ask you to pay a bill using Gift Cards or Cryptocurrency. If they do, it is a scam!