It used to be that we just had to worry about criminals breaking into our homes and vehicles. Now, scammers from all over the world can access your computer and online accounts.
Every time you go online, you leave behind traces of personal information that criminals can use against you. Your name, address, phone number, family details, and even your voice can fall into the wrong hands. But you can still protect yourself without needing to be a computer expert.
We want to make sure that staying safe online isn’t complicated with these practical measures anyone can take.
Strong Passwords: Your First Line of Defence
Think of your password as the lock on your front door. You wouldn't use a flimsy lock to protect your home, so why use a weak password to protect your online accounts?
Why Weak Passwords Put You at Risk
Criminals have computer programs that can try millions of password combinations in minutes. If your password is "password123" or your pet's name followed by your birth year, these programs will crack it faster than you can make a cup of coffee.
Think about what happens when criminals get into your email account. They can:
- see your bank statements
- reset passwords for other accounts
- access personal information you've shared with family and friends.
From one weak password, they can take control of your entire digital life.
Creating Strong, Unique Passwords
Forget everything you've been told about using complicated symbols and numbers. Your password’s length matters more than complexity. A password like "correct-horse-battery-staple" is much stronger than "P@ssw0rd1" because it's longer and harder for computer programs to guess.
Try creating passwords using four or five random words strung together. "BlueChairWindowSummer" is easy for you to remember but harder for criminals to crack. You can make it even stronger by adding a number or symbol, like "BlueChairWindowSummer47!"
Every account you have online needs its own unique password. When criminals steal passwords from one website, it’s common for them to immediately try those same passwords on other popular sites. If you use the same password everywhere, one security breach can compromise all your accounts. In recent years, massive data breaches have exposed billions of passwords. One breach alone recently revealed 16 billion passwords from Apple, Facebook, Google, and other major companies. With these large-scale attacks happening more and more, the best thing you can do is keep your passwords unique and update them once or twice a year.
Here's a simple trick for creating memorable but unique passwords: take your base phrase and add something related to each website. For your bank account, you might use "BlueChairWindowSummerMoney!" For your email, try "BlueChairWindowSummerMail!" This way, each password is different but follows a pattern you can remember.
Password Management Tools
Writing down passwords isn't necessarily a bad idea. If you keep a written list in a secure place at home, it's probably safer than using the same weak password everywhere. Just don't carry the list with you or leave it near your computer.
Password managers are computer programs that store and manage all your passwords for you. They create strong, unique passwords for every account and fill them in automatically when you visit websites. Some password managers include Bitwarden, 1Password, and LastPass.
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. Even if criminals steal your password, they can't get in without a second code. Turn on two-factor authentication for your accounts, especially your email, banking, and social media.
VPNs: Protecting Your Internet Connection
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. Think of it as sending your internet activity through a sealed envelope that only you and your destination can open.
Why You Need a VPN
Every time you connect to the internet, even your personal connection at home, your activity passes through your internet service provider and potentially other companies that can monitor what you're doing online. They can see which websites you visit, when you visit them, and how long you stay on each site. This information has value, and companies regularly buy and sell it.
Public Wi-Fi networks in coffee shops, libraries, hotels, and airports also pose serious security risks. When you check your email or bank account on public Wi-Fi, criminals using the same network might be able to see your login information and personal details.
VPNs create a secure tunnel for your internet traffic that prevents others from seeing what you're doing online. Your internet service provider, the coffee shop Wi-Fi operator, and criminals on the same network can still see that you're using the internet, but they can't see which websites you're visiting or what information you're sending and receiving.
Limiting Personal Information Sharing
Every piece of information you share online becomes part of your digital footprint. Social media posts reveal your location, relationships, interests, and daily routines. Criminals collect these pieces like puzzles, assembling them into a complete picture they can use to target you with scams or steal your identity.
Criminals might combine your address from one website, your family members' names from social media, and your interests from another site to create a convincing story designed to trick you or your loved ones.
Remember that the information you share online can stay there forever. Even if you delete a post or close an account, copies might exist on other websites, in search engine caches, or on other people's devices. Before sharing anything online, ask yourself if you'd be comfortable with that information being public.
Protecting Against AI-Powered Scams
Artificial intelligence has given criminals powerful new tools to trick people. They can clone voices, create fake videos, and write convincing messages. These AI-powered scams are becoming harder to detect, but you can protect yourself by knowing what to watch for.
Voice Cloning
Voice cloning technology allows criminals to create fake audio that sounds exactly like someone you know. They need only a few seconds of recorded speech, easily obtained from social media videos or voicemail greetings, to generate convincing fake voice messages or phone calls.
Deepfake Videos
Deepfake videos and photos can show people doing or saying things they never actually did. Criminals use these to create fake testimonials for investment scams, impersonate public figures, or even create compromising images for blackmail attempts.
AI-Generated Text
AI-generated text can mimic the writing style of legitimate companies, government agencies, or even people you know. These messages often contain fewer obvious errors than traditional scam communications, making them harder to identify as fake.
Protecting Against These Crimes
On social media, limit the audio and video content you share publicly and review your privacy settings to restrict who can see and download your photos and videos.
If someone claiming to be a family member calls asking for money or help in an emergency, always verify their identity. Call them back on their regular phone number, contact other family members to confirm the situation, or ask questions that only the real person would know the answers to. You can also set up family code words or verification questions that only real family members would know.
What to Do When Things Go Wrong
Despite your best efforts, you might still fall victim to online criminals. Don't feel embarrassed; these scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and even security experts sometimes get fooled. The important thing is to act quickly to minimize the damage.
If You've Been Scammed
If you realize you've been scammed, take immediate action. Time is critical, especially if you've provided financial information or sent money to criminals.
1. Contact your bank and credit card companies immediately if you've shared financial information or suspect there have been unauthorized transactions. Many financial institutions can prevent or reverse fraudulent charges if you report them quickly.
2. Change passwords for all your online accounts, starting with the most important ones: email, banking, and social media. If you used the same password on multiple sites, change all of them. This prevents criminals from using stolen login information to access other accounts.
3. Document everything related to the scam: save emails, take screenshots of websites or messages, write down phone numbers that called you, and keep records of any money you lost. This documentation will be important for police reports, insurance claims, and recovery efforts.
4. Contact your local police for crimes involving significant financial loss or identity theft. Report online scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Staying Safe Online Takes Practice
Online safety isn't something you set up once and forget about. Criminals constantly develop new techniques, and technology continues to evolve. Building good digital habits and staying informed about emerging threats will protect you and your family from digital criminals.
Start with the basics: use strong, unique passwords, be cautious about what information you share online, and trust your instincts when something feels wrong.
Remember that criminals count on people feeling overwhelmed or embarrassed about technology. You don't need to become a computer expert to stay safe online. Just focus on the practical steps we've shared, ask questions when you're unsure about something, and don't be afraid to look for help when you need it.
Need Help?
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501 or www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
- For emergencies or crimes in progress: Call 911
- RCMP non-emergency: Contact your local detachment
August 07, 2025