Staying Safe Online for All Ages
Maintaining personal and professional safety and privacy online is a complex challenge for people of all ages. Staying safe online requires building individuals' and organizations' digital literacy, which Cornell University defines as “the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, share, and create content using information technologies and the Internet.” When thinking about online safety from a child welfare perspective, there are a variety of elements that collide: the personal and private information of young people, families, and workers; how devices can be kept safe in a virtual-working world; the safety of young people who are actively using the internet; and the additional safety challenges posed when domestic violence is taking place in a home and the internet may not be a safe place to seek help.
This guide contains information on how to protect personal and professional information, what to do to secure devices in a primarily work-from-home environment, resources for young people about what it takes to stay safe online, and information about online safety through the lens of domestic violence.
Basics of Online Safety
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Get Cyber Safe | Government of CanadaGet Cyber Safe is a national public awareness campaign created to inform Canadians about cyber security and the simple steps they can take to protect themselves online.
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Secure Your Accounts | Government of CanadaYour online accounts hold a lot of personal data. Make sure that information stays safe with account security tips from Get Cyber Safe.
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Staying in touch while remaining cyber secureWhether you’re working remotely or checking in with your friends over social media, here are some ways that you can continue to stay safe while staying in touch online.
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Fraud Prevention Tips Newsletter Signup | Canadian Bankers AssociationSign up for the Canadian Bankers Association has a Fraud Prevention Tips newsletter to receive tips directly in your inbox.
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Cyber Security Toolkit for Consumers | Canadian Bankers AssociationThere are also simple steps you can take to recognize cyber threats and protect yourself. With a cyber hygiene checklist and tips on how to spot common scams, the CBA’s Cyber Security Toolkit can help you protect against online financial fraud.
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Video: Malware & Ransomware | Government of CanadaA video that describes malware and ransomware, how to avoid it, and what to do if you are infected.
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Phishing: Don't Get Reeled In | Government of CanadaPhishing is a common tactic that cyber criminals use to steal personal and financial information from you. Phishing messages usually take the form of an email or phone call from a cyber criminal who is pretending to be someone they are not, such as your bank. Cyber criminals have become increasingly sophisticated in their phishing campaigns. Don't get reeled in. Get cyber safe, and arm yourself with the following tips so that you can be vigilant about staying cyber secure.
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Cyber Security Glossary | Government of CanadaGet definitions for the ever-changing world of cyber security jargon — from "administrative privileges" to "zombie".
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General Cybersecurity Safety Tips | University of OttawaWhile our daily online activity continues to grow, so does our exposure to online threats. Multiply this by the sheer amount of devices through which we can access the Internet, and the risk of our personal information falling into the wrong hands increases exponentially. Follow these ten tips to increase your online safety.
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How to Identify and Avoid Social Engineering Cyber Attacks | Canadian Bankers AssociationCyber criminals often use human psychology and the art of manipulation to scare, confuse or rush you into opening a malicious link or attachment or into providing personal information through a process known as "social engineering." Social engineering tactics exploit our basic human urge to respond to urgent requests (especially requests from a person of authority), make a problem go away, or simply to be helpful to lure us into giving away information that can be used to commit financial fraud.
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How Phishing Has Evolved and Three New Ways to RespondPhishing scams continue to be the most common form of attack in the cyber threat landscape with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) reporting that Canadians lost more than $40 million to online scams last year most of which were phishing related.
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Managing Your Online Identity | Canadian Bankers AssociationWith so many of our daily activities happening online, from shopping, banking and staying in touch with our friends and family through social media, it’s important to understand how much information is available about you online and how to keep your personal information safe.
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Avoiding QR Code Scams | Canadian Bankers AssociationSometimes a fraudulent code will lead you to a bogus website site to steal information. Other times, scammers use a QR code to launch a fraudulent payment app or spread malware. In a typical scenario, a scammer will pose as a legitimate business and post a notice about a sale or offer. When you scan the code, you’re asked to enter sensitive personal or financial information, like a credit card, and that information is stolen.
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What is credential stuffing and are you putting yourself at risk? | Canadian Bankers Association"Credential stuffing" is a term used to describe a technique used by hackers to exploit stolen passwords to gain access to your online accounts. Here’s a primer on how it works and the one simple step you can take to protect yourself.
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The importance of digital privacy for marginalized groups | World Wide Web FoundationData privacy has become a buzzword for tech companies who have wised up to the fact it’s now something we care about. While digital privacy is something we should all prioritize, it’s especially important to those already facing discrimination or persecution offline. For marginalized groups, the ways in which data is collected and often shared with third parties can put their lives in danger.
Virtual Work and Device Safety
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How to make your business cyber safe from the office or at home | Government of CanadaWhether you’re in an office or working from home, it’s important that your business takes cyber security seriously. Making your business cyber secure is a team effort and, like other business operations, it takes support and action from both management and employees to achieve peak performance. Here are a few things to consider if you want to keep your business safe from online threats.
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Make your work devices work for you: A guide for employees | Government of CanadaIn some ways, our workplace devices are our favourite coworkers. But if we’re not careful, they can also expose us to serious threats. Here are some tips on how you can safely use your work devices, no matter where work is.
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Tips for staying safe while working from home | Government of Canada + The Canadian Bankers AssociationWith so many of us working from home, it's important to address any security weaknesses you might have in your home office set-up. Here are some simple tips to ensure you are maintaining good security processes and procedures at home, even if your home office consists of a laptop and your couch.
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Staying safe while working and networking remotelySince last year, working remotely has become more common than ever before. And while some Canadians have headed back to the office in the past few months, many have not. For a lot of people, working from home is here to stay. To make the most of a remote working experience, it’s important to know how to secure your connection, like tightening up your home network security or using a virtual private network (VPN) when using public Wi-Fi .
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How to keep your employees cyber safe | Government of CanadaBusiness owners need to take cyber security seriously. They should have systems in place to make getting cyber safe a part of the everyday work routine. If you’re a business owner looking to make your workplace more secure, here are some steps you can take.
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Secure Your Devices | Government of CanadaYour devices can keep you connected to the internet no matter where you are. Learn how to protect them, and your information, from being compromised.
Keeping Young People Safe Online
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Being Safe On the Internet | AmazeThis video includes tips on internet safety, advising young people to think carefully before they share pictures and videos on the Internet. It goes over what to do if someone you met on the Internet makes you uncomfortable – stop communication immediately and tell a trusted adult. The video advises young people not to meet someone they only met online in person, but if they do, meet in a public place and bring a friend. The video also includes a definition of cyberbullying and what to do if you are experiencing cyberbullying. Finally, the video suggests that you check privacy settings and never share passwords.
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Online Safety Resources | CyberTip.ca, Canada's National Tipline for Reporting the Online Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenHelping kids stay safe while online is something many families are concerned about. It can be difficult to stay up to date with new technology and how to best protect your kids. Cybertip.ca offers information about the ever-changing online interests of children, the potential risks they face, and proactive strategies to help keep your child/youth safe while online.
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Parenting Teens and Tweens in the Digital World | Canadian Centre for Child ProtectionA plain-language guide for how to guide teens and tweens navigating the digital age, including descriptions of online safety risks, and healthy and unhealthy relationships, recommendations for how to communicate and convey the importance of healthy boundaries, lists of common tactics used by adult offenders, legal information, as well as ways to assess and seek help.
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CyberTip.ca AlertsOur experience in operating Cybertip.ca offers us a unique lens into new online risks children and youth are facing. Sign up for these emails and receive important information about current trends and emerging technology concerns to help keep your family safe online.
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ProtectKidsOnline | Canadian Child Protection AgencyHelping kids stay safe while online is something many parents are concerned about. Yet, as a parent, it can be difficult to stay up to date with new technology and how to best protect your kids. ProtectKidsOnline.ca is here to help parents/guardians stay on top of the digital world their children are engaging in. Here you’ll find information about the ever-changing online interests of young people, the potential risks they face and proactive strategies to help keep your child/adolescent safe while online.
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Zoe & Molly Online | Canadian Centre for Child ProtectionZoe and Molly are all about online gaming. Their favourite games are Blocker and House Pets. Sometimes weird stuff happens when they’re online and they don’t always know what to do. Join Zoe and Molly as they build epic castles and collect cats while learning about how to play safely online.
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Educational Games | MediaSmartsIn this section you will find educational computer games that introduce kids to key ideas in media and digital literacy. These games are a great way to start a conversation on media issues in the home or classroom, and you can play most of them right here on our website.
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Simplifying Cyber Security for Kids | Government of CanadaWith Get Cyber Safe, learning how to keep your data and devices secure online is simple. But explaining how to isn’t always as easy, especially to young kids. This article features some fun and simple ways you can explain cyber security to kids.
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Get Cyber Safe Agency: Workbook for Kids | Government of CanadaA resource for kids to learn more about the topics covered here and have fun defeating cyber villain Viro at the same time!
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How (and what) to teach your kids about phishing | Government of CanadaEven if you have parental controls or locks in place on your children’s devices, it’s still hard to manage every aspect of their online activity. Help your child protect themselves online by teaching them the signs of phishing, as well as what to do should they encounter them. If you do these things, you’ll help your entire family to get cyber safe.
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5 online safety tips everyone needs to know | Kids Help PhoneSocial media. Dating apps. Distance learning. Sexting. Young people across Canada are more connected to the Internet than ever. Being online (if accessible to you) can be a great way to connect, play, learn, share and more. But there are some safety considerations to keep in mind before using websites/apps/etc. (Some things you may already know, while others may be new or a refresher for you.) This page includes Kids Help Phone’s top five online safety tips to help you take care of your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health.
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How can I protect my privacy when using social media? | Kids Help PhoneSocial media is a great and easy way to stay connected with friends and family. But, it’s important to know what you should be posting, and think about who may see it. Once something is on the internet, it can be there for a very long time, and can be difficult to take down. You may give out too much private information without realizing it, so it’s important to know the dangers of oversharing and how to stop yourself from doing it.
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Teach Your Kids How to Avoid Online Scams | Canadian Bankers AssociationIn a digital world, children and young people have constant access to the internet, online gaming systems and mobile phones along with thousands of applications and games. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the popularity of online sites, apps and games to create convincing scams that are hard for adults, let alone kids to recognize and avoid. There are several best practices you can adopt as a parent or guardian to limit your child’s exposure to frauds and scams included on this page.
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NeedHelpNow.ca | Canadian Centre for Child ProtectionNeedHelpNow.ca helps teens stop the spread of sexual pictures or videos and provides support along the way. If you or someone you know has been negatively impacted by a self/peer exploitation incident, we are here to help offer guidance on the steps you can take to get through it.
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Teaching kids about privacy | Info Matters PodcastParents, kids, teachers, this one’s for you! Explaining privacy in a way that kids can understand — concepts and tools you can use to start discussing this very important topic from a young age. Conversation with international privacy expert Daniel Solove with highlights from his children’s book The Eyemonger. Info Matters is a podcast from the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
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Sexting | AmazeThis video features a scenario of sending nude photos via text, or sexting. It covers the potential consequences of sending nude photos, such as the photos being shared with others or posted on the Internet. It also covers the legal consequences of having nude photos – in some states, it is considered child pornography or sexual harrassment. The video emphasizes that while feeling attracted to someone is totally normal, there are more respectful ways to show someone you like them.
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The Internet Has Been Interpreted: Fact Check | AmazeThis video includes tips for helping youth fact check information they find online, in particular, determining what is a reliable source for health information, and what isn’t. The video introduces key ideas to determine if a source is trustworthy, for example, checking what date the material was published and whether the author is considered an expert. Viewers learn that online forums are not trusted sources of information.
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Teaching Students with Disabilities about Online Safety | LD OnlineMany parents and teachers of children with disabilities are well aware of the potential for in-class bullying and make efforts to stop bullying before it starts; but what about the exclusion and harassment that teachers and parents don’t see? As young people spend an increasing amount of time online, much of the inappropriate behavior, language, and material they encounter is beyond the immediate view of parents, teachers, and guardians. Therefore, preparing all students for safe interactions online is important, and it is all the more critical to examine the special risks and issues that students with disabilities face online. Learn from these tips and strategies to help your students meet the standards for Digital Citizenship and to guide your students to use technology and digital media in a safe and responsible way.
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Privacy Pursuit: Games and Activities for Kids | Information & Privacy Commissioner of OntarioWho ever said learning can’t be fun? The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario made this booklet to help kids learn more about online privacy with useful information, neat games, real stories, and some interesting questions.
Domestic Abuse and Online Safety
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Staying Safe Online | ShelterSafePower and control issues are a part of domestic violence and abusive partners frequently use technology to monitor and control those they abuse. This is why it is important to cover your tracks. This page outlines how to do this, and provides other online tips for people fleeing domestic violence.
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The Technology Safety and Privacy Toolkit | BC Society of Transition HousesThe Technology Safety and Privacy Toolkit is an online toolkit for Canadian women experiencing technology-facilitated violence to learn how they can increase their technology safety and privacy. This toolkit is comprised of a series of specific technology safety handouts designed to help women and anti-violence workers respond to and enhance strategies for women’s safety. Though we believe the content of this toolkit is up to date at the time of publishing, we know that technology is constantly emerging and changing. We encourage women to check our toolkit regularly for updated handouts and connect with their local anti-violence programs for support.
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Get Help If Your Are Experiencing Violence: Hiding Your Internet Activity | Government of OntarioThe internet is a great resource for finding information that can help you make decisions about your personal situation. However, it’s important to understand that the record of your internet activities does not disappear when you close your browser. If you are concerned that someone may be monitoring you, it is helpful to know how to hide your Internet activities.
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Signal for Help | Canadian Women's FoundationThe social isolation measures necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic are making it more difficult for those who are at risk of abuse or violence to safely reach out for help. “Signal for Help” is a simple one-handed sign someone can use on a video call. It can help a person silently show they need help and want someone to check in with them in a safe way.
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NeedHelpNow.ca | Canadian Centre for Child ProtectionNeedHelpNow.ca helps teens stop the spread of sexual pictures or videos and provides support along the way. If you or someone you know has been negatively impacted by a self/peer exploitation incident, we are here to help offer guidance on the steps you can take to get through it.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada Fact Sheets
Printable Posters for the Workplace
Articles & Research
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Digital crime, trauma, and abuse: Internet safety and cyber risks for adolescents and emerging adults in the 21st century. byPublication Date: 2021Social Work in Mental Health
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Youth Internet Safety Education: Aligning Programs With the Evidence Base. byPublication Date: 2021Trauma, Violence & Abuse
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Teaching privacy: A flawed strategy for children's online safety. byPublication Date: 2021Child Abuse & Neglect