Kids Off to University? Simple Ways to Stay Safe Online

Are you beloved teens flying the coop this September? Heading to university is exciting, but it also means relying on technology more than ever. Laptops and Phones are essential, holding coursework, personal information, photographs, banking apps and access to important accounts.

The good news is that staying safe online doesn’t need to be complicated. Here are seven simple checks you can recommend to your family or friends embarking on this fantastic life journey.

Every student should know and take the following steps before heading to university.

Use different passwords

Don’t reuse the same password for university email, banking and social media.

Turn on multi-factor authentication

Especially for email, banking and university accounts.

Be careful with unexpected messages

Watch for fake student finance, accommodation, delivery and university emails.

Keep devices updated

Install updates on laptops and phones rather than continually postponing them.

Back up your coursework

Use a trusted cloud service so one lost or damaged laptop doesn’t become a disaster.

Take care on public Wi-Fi

Avoid accessing sensitive accounts on unsecured networks.

Protect your devices

Use a PIN or biometric lock and switch on device tracking before leaving home.

A few minutes spent checking passwords, backups and security settings now could prevent a lot of stress later. If you have a young person heading to university, share this checklist with them before they leave, and preferably before the car is packed.