{"id":91844,"date":"2018-10-08T20:26:48","date_gmt":"2018-10-09T03:26:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/?p=91844"},"modified":"2025-08-19T08:18:47","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T15:18:47","slug":"stay-smart-online-week-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/internet-security\/stay-smart-online-week-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Stay Smart Online Week 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

Time for a Cyber Safety Check-Up?<\/h2>\n

Aussies love the internet. And the statistics just confirm it. In 2018, 88% of us describe ourselves as active internet users<\/a>. And our social media usage is up there with some of the most prolific users worldwide with 60% of us active users on Facebook and 50% of us logging in at least once a day.<\/a><\/p>\n

So, an annual reminder to take stock of our digital lives is a very good idea! Stay Smart Online Week<\/a> is an initiative from the Australian Government designed to ensure we are all up to date with the latest cyber safety know-how. Kicking off from the 8th<\/sup> of October, I believe this annual event is the ideal opportunity for a yearly cyber safety check up.<\/p>\n

We Are Choosing to Ignore the Risks<\/h4>\n

Research conducted by McAfee shows that many of us are very aware of the risks associated with our online behaviour but simply choose to ignore them. For example, 30% of Aussie parents are continuing to regularly post pics of their kids online<\/a> despite 50% of us being concerned by the associated risks including paedophilia, stalking and cyberbullying. Is it the lure of likes, the surge of dopamine or just the face we are all time poor that affects our rational brain?<\/p>\n

Keeping It Simple<\/h4>\n

I know many of us feel a little overwhelmed at the thought of staying on top of our online safety. We don\u2019t know where to start, have very little time and, quite frankly, we\u2019d rather be doing something else! But not taking your online safety seriously is a little like leaving like leaving your house unlocked. It puts your privacy and even your financial safety at risk.<\/p>\n

But the good news is there are a host of simple, quick, steps you can take to ensure you are doing all you can to protect yourself online. So, make yourself a cuppa and let\u2019s get to work. Here are 3 three things you can start to put in place today to secure yourself and your devices.<\/p>\n

1. Protect ALL Your Devices<\/strong><\/h4>\n

I bet if you added up the internet connected devices in your household, you\u2019d be staggered at the figure. My latest count was over 30! And the figure is only going to increase. Research shows that by 2025<\/a> there will be approximately 75 billion connected devices worldwide from wearables and pacemakers to thermometers and smart plugs.<\/p>\n

These devices will absolutely make our lives easier, but the reality is that many internet-connected devices (IoT) lack built in security features making them vulnerable to hacking and malware. In 2018 alone, McAfee uncovered numerous major security flaws in virtual assistants<\/a> and smart plugs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you need to do:<\/p>\n