Internet & Cyber Safety

Sextortion and online exploitation

Sextortion involves a suspect convincing a victim to share private or sexual photos or videos, typically through social media. After obtaining the content, the suspect threatens to share it with the victim's contacts unless the victim sends money, gift cards, or additional material. Parents are encouraged to keep open conversations with their children about online risks.

How to stay safe online

• Be cautious when communicating with unknown online contacts — you cannot verify who they really are.
• Never send intimate images or videos, no matter how much you trust the other person.
• Remember that any livestream can be secretly recorded.
• Adjust the privacy settings on your social platforms to limit who can see and contact you.
• Avoid storing sensitive images on your devices or in cloud accounts.
• Trust your instincts and end any conversation that feels inappropriate.

Protecting your computer

Computer crime is becoming ever more prevalent. Protecting your systems means balancing security with usability. Common threats include:

• Viruses — programs that attach to files and can damage your system; install and regularly update antivirus software.
• Hackers — who gain access through impersonation, weak passwords, or guessing credentials; use complex passwords that combine letters, numbers, and special characters, change them regularly, and keep them at least six to eight characters long.
• Trojan horses — malicious instructions hidden inside software or email; security software, firewalls, and antivirus programs help detect them.
• Logic bombs — code that executes at a set time to cause damage; antivirus software and firewalls can help detect and prevent these attacks.

Good practice also includes keeping regular, offsite backups, updating your software, and protecting your devices physically.