Women’s Safety Online: 5 Steps to Escape Online Harassment and Cybercrime
When more women were going online to study, work, and socialize, greater exposure to web harassment and cybercrime also meant more women required assistance. From phishing and stalking to doxxing and identity theft, women have been the primary targets disproportionately. To remain ahead of the curve while being safe online to ensure that these situations do not become cases, here are simple steps by which women can help harassment and cybercrime keep its distance.
1. Increase Your Privacy Settings
Tweak privacy settings on social media so harassment becomes extremely improbable.
- Limit Profile Visibility: Make your profiles private profiles in order to limit individuals who view your posts.
- Block Friend Requests: Allow friend requests from known persons only.
- Maintain Personal Details as Confidential: Do not publish personal information such as phone numbers or addresses.
2. Have Strong and Rare Passwords
Weak passwords open your accounts for hackers. Safeguard your online presence with strong, rare passwords.
- Use Blended Characters: Mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Don’t Repeat Passwords: Different passwords for different accounts.
- Activate Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Implement an extra layer of protection to stop unauthorized access.
3. Prevent Phishing and Spyware Infection
Phishing emails and spyware links are typical hacks used to capture sensitive information. Avoid the following with caution:
- Validate Sources: Always carefully check the sender’s e-mail address before clicking on the links.
- Fishy Links: Do not open suspicious links or attachments from unknown sources.
- Installing Anti-Malware Software: Keep your anti-virus program updated to protect devices.
4. Avoid Location Sharing and Geotagging
Location sharing on the internet makes you susceptible to stalking and physical harm.
- Turn Off Location Access: Do not let computer programs access location services when not necessary.
- Do Not Share Real-Time Location: Share location once you are already gone from the place.
5. Report and Block Abusers Immediately
Cyberbullying will continue to spread more and more online if not reported. Acting in good time can stop abuse from happening again.
- Block Offenders: Mute or block offending users to reduce unwanted interaction.
- Report Abuse: Report abuse to the website and local authorities, as appropriate.
- Document Evidence: Save screenshots and records of abusive messages as evidence.
Conclusion: Women’s online safety must be proactive in addressing the threat of harassment and cybercrime. Guarding personal information, making good passwords, not replying to phishing, restricting sharing location, and reporting harassers helps women to safeguard themselves and reclaim their online lives. Empowerment through awareness is the key to remaining safe in the digital age.
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