5 Easy Steps to Protect Your Digital Life

We often put significant effort into maintaining our physical health—eating nutritious meals, exercising regularly, and seeing the doctor when needed. But have you considered the health of your digital life? Your digital health refers to how safely and securely you manage your online presence, including protecting your personal information, preventing unauthorized access to your accounts, and avoiding common online risks like scams or identity theft.

You don't need to be a technology expert to protect yourself and your information. Just like you take simple daily steps to stay physically well, there are straightforward ways to keep yourself safe and confident online. Below, you'll find five clear, practical steps to help you feel more confident online and protect your digital life.

1. Keep your apps and devices updated

You may have noticed notifications asking you to update your phone, tablet, or computer. These might seem inconvenient or confusing, but they are important. Updates fix vulnerabilities or weaknesses that hackers might exploit to access your personal information.

Think of updates like routine home or car maintenance: they may take a bit of time, but they keep things safe and running smoothly.

Enable automatic updates: steps to stay updated:

• Here’s how to do it on Android devices
• On iOS devices, automatic updates are on by default.

Keeping everything updated is an easy, effective first step toward a safer digital life.

2. Create strong passwords the easy way

Passwords are like keys which keep your online accounts locked safely away from prying eyes. Weak passwords or using the same password across multiple accounts can leave doors open for scammers or hackers. If they steal just one password, they can unlock everything that one password protects.

But how can you create – and more importantly – remember so many strong passwords?

The easiest way is by using a password manager app. This helpful tool securely remembers your passwords for you, meaning you only need to recall one master password you use to access your password vault.

And not only does this make things more secure – it also makes signing in faster. You can just copy and paste your passwords or fill them automatically from the vault. Super fast! And you will never again need to wonder what the password was, or which letter in it was actually a number.

3. Smart and safe on social media

Social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram help you stay connected with friends and family. But it's crucial to protect your personal information online.

When your information is open to everyone, it can be misused. Adjusting your privacy settings limits who sees your personal posts and information.

Here’s how to adjust your Facebook privacy settings quickly:

• Log in to Facebook.
• Click on your profile picture and select "Settings and Privacy."
• Choose "Privacy Checkup." Facebook guides you step-by-step, clearly explaining how to adjust who sees your information.

You can also set similar privacy settings for other social media accounts, like Instagram and X.

4. Add extra security with two-step verification

Two-step verification (also called two-factor or multi-factor authentication) means you provide two different forms of identification to access your account: your password plus fingerprint scan, a one-time code sent in SMS or email, or an app-generated passcode.

Think of it like using two keys for your home:

• Your first key (your password) unlocks the initial door.
• The second key (for example a code sent to your phone) unlocks a second door, providing extra security.

Most online services, including your bank, email, and social media accounts, offer two-step verification. Enabling this feature significantly reduces the risk of someone accessing your accounts without permission.

To enable it easily on most services, do this:

• Log into your account.
• Find settings labeled "Security" or "Privacy."
• Select "Two-Step Verification" or "Multi-Factor Authentication" (or similar).
• Follow the instructions provided.

This simple extra step adds substantial protection to your digital life. According to Microsoft, two-step verification can block over 99.9% of account compromise attacks.

5. Protect yourself on public Wi-Fi with a VPN

Public Wi-Fi at places like coffee shops, hotels, or airports is convenient but can also be risky. When you use these networks, your online activities might be visible to attackers.

A VPN app, or Virtual Private Network, protects you by creating a secure tunnel between your device and the internet. It's like sending your information through a private pipe that no one else can look into.

VPNs may sound complex, but they're straightforward to use:

• Choose and install a reputable VPN app.
• Activate the VPN with one click or tap before connecting to public Wi-Fi.
• Now, you can browse and use your apps privately and safely.

Using a VPN ensures your personal details, passwords, and financial information remain protected whenever you're away from home.

Common scams you should watch out for

Being aware of some of the most common scams can help you avoid becoming a victim. These include:

• Fake emails (phishing): Scammers pose as banks or authorities or other trustable parties, urging you to click a link and share personal information. Always double-check sender addresses for odd characters and typography and never click unknown links.
• Tech support scams: Someone claiming they're from "computer support" calls or emails, asking you for access to your computer. Genuine tech support companies never call unsolicited. Simply hang up or delete the email.
• Online dating scams: A stranger builds trust through friendly conversations, then asks for money. Never send money to someone you've only met online.

Staying aware and cautious is your best defense against these schemes, but having automatic online security can save you a from a lot of trouble.

Confidence in your digital life

Digital life shouldn't cause worry or anxiety. With these practical, straightforward steps, you can confidently enjoy the convenience and connection technology brings to your life.

Just like maintaining your physical health, small, regular actions greatly benefit your digital health. Protecting yourself online doesn't require tech expertise—just a bit of awareness and easy habits.

Feel empowered to share your newfound confidence and knowledge with friends and family—everyone deserves to feel safe online.