By owning a computer, laptop or a mobile, you are bound to search online for information and register on portals such as forums, social media sites … By doing so, you are submitting your online identity.
Your online identity is basically shaped by what you share online, how you behave on the internet, and the platforms you choose to use. Here are some key things that help form your online persona:
- Personal Info – Includes your name, email, phone number, address, birthday, and social security number.
- Social Media Accounts – This covers your posts, likes, comments, and any personal info you decide to share.
- Login Credentials – Think usernames, passwords, and security questions for different websites.
- Financial Info – Your credit card details, bank account numbers, and payment services like PayPal.
- Browsing History & Cookies – Which websites you visit, what you search for, and your online shopping habits.
- Public Profiles & Forums – This is about your contributions to online forums, gaming accounts, and professional sites like LinkedIn.
- Cloud Storage & Emails – Any personal files, photos, and sensitive emails you keep online.
How to Keep Your Online Identity Safe from Theft
- Use Strong & Unique Passwords
- Make long, complex passwords using a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Consider using a password manager to keep them safe.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- Turn on 2FA for all your important accounts to add another layer of protection.
- Be Careful with Your Personal Info
- Try not to share too much personal stuff on social media.
- Be cautious about what you post, especially details like birth dates and addresses.
- Use Secure Connections
- Only enter sensitive info on websites that start with HTTPS.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi when doing banking or logging into important accounts.
- Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can give you extra security.
- Watch Out for Phishing Scams
- Don’t click on any suspicious links in emails or texts.
- Always check who the sender is before sharing personal info.
- Keep an Eye on Your Accounts
- Look over your bank statements, credit reports, and account activities for anything suspicious.
- Set up alerts for any unusual login attempts.
- Keep Software & Devices Updated
- Make sure to update your operating system, browsers, and security software regularly.
- Turning on automatic updates can help protect you from vulnerabilities.
- Use Privacy Settings & Secure Your Social Media
- Tweak your privacy settings on sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
- Limit who can see your posts, location, and personal info.
- Secure Your Email Account
- Your email is the key to many of your online accounts, so use a strong password and 2FA.
- Be careful with password reset emails.
- Shred Personal Documents
- Identity theft isn’t just online. Shred any papers with personal info before throwing them away.
Which of the following contributes to your online identity questions and answers
Question 1: What kind of info matters most for your online identity?
A) Favorite movie and food
B) Email address and passwords
C) The color of your phone case
D) Your pet’s name
Correct Answer: B) Email address and passwords
Question 2: What actions could make you more at risk for identity theft?
A) Using the same password for several accounts
B) Turning on two-factor authentication (2FA)
C) Keeping your social media private
D) Using a password manager
Correct Answer: A) Using the same password for several accounts
Question 3: How do hackers commonly steal your online identity?
A) Sending phishing emails to trick you into giving personal info
B) Asking you nicely for your password
C) Using mind-reading skills
D) Guessing your age
Correct Answer: A) Sending phishing emails to trick you into giving personal info
Question 4: What can keep track of and store your online behavior?
A) Cookies and browsing history
B) Your pet’s microchip
C) Your fridge
D) Your phone’s flashlight
Correct Answer: A) Cookies and browsing history
Question 5: What’s the best way to keep your social media accounts safe?
A) Share a lot of personal details so people know it’s really you
B) Set your account to private and avoid oversharing
C) Accept friend requests from everyone
D) Use your birth year as your password so you won’t forget
Correct Answer: B) Set your account to private and avoid oversharing
Question 6: What’s the safest way to connect to the internet?
A) Use public Wi-Fi with no password
B) Use a VPN when on public networks
C) Click pop-ups offering “free security scans”
D) Log into random Wi-Fi networks to save data
Correct Answer: B) Use a VPN when on public networks
Question 7: If you get an email from your bank asking for your password, what should you do?
A) Respond right away with your login info
B) Click the link and enter your details
C) Ignore it or reach out to your bank directly
D) Forward it to all your friends so they know
Correct Answer: C) Ignore it or reach out to your bank directly
Question 8: What’s a good way to create a strong password?
A) Mix letters, numbers, and symbols
B) Use “password123” since it’s easy to remember
C) Use your name and birthday for easy recall
D) Keep the same password for all your accounts
Correct Answer: A) Mix letters, numbers, and symbols
Question 9: What can help prevent identity theft?
A) Posting personal info online
B) Using multi-factor authentication (MFA)
C) Saving passwords in a text file on your desktop
D) Clicking unknown links in emails
Correct Answer: B) Using multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Question 10: What does two-factor authentication (2FA) do?
A) Requires two passwords to log in
B) Adds extra security by needing a second form of verification
C) Doubles your internet speed
D) Logs you out every 10 minutes
Correct Answer: B) Adds extra security by needing a second form of verification
Question 11: How can you tell if a website is secure?
A) It has “https://” in the URL
B) It looks nice and modern
C) It asks for your personal info right away
D) It has lots of pop-up ads
Correct Answer: A) It has “https://” in the URL
Question 12: Why should you avoid oversharing on social media?
A) It might make you seem unprofessional
B) Hackers can use your personal info to steal your identity
C) Your friends may get jealous
D) It clutters up your timeline too fast
Correct Answer: B) Hackers can use your personal info to steal your identity
Question 13: What should you do if you get a sketchy message from a friend’s account?
A) Click the link to see what happens
B) Ignore it and delete the message
C) Ask them if they meant to send it before clicking anything
D) Reply with your personal details just in case
Correct Answer: C) Ask them if they meant to send it before clicking anything
Question 14: How can you check if your personal info has been leaked online?
A) Search your name on Google
B) Check sites like “Have I Been Pwned”
C) Politely ask a hacker
D) Call your internet provider
Correct Answer: B) Check sites like “Have I Been Pwned”
Question 15: What should you do if you think your account has been hacked?
A) Just ignore it and hope for the best
B) Change your password right away and turn on 2FA
C) Post about it on social media for sympathy
D) Make a new account and start over
Correct Answer: B) Change your password right away and turn on 2FA
Question 16: What’s a good way to store passwords safely?
A) Write them down in a notebook
B) Use a password manager
C) Keep them in a plain text file on your computer
D) Memorize them all without writing anything
Correct Answer: B) Use a password manager
Question 17: What should you do before installing an app?
A) Download it right away and see how it works
B) Read the permissions it asks for and check reviews
C) Ask a friend if they’ve tried it
D) Install it on lots of devices to be sure
Correct Answer: B) Read the permissions it asks for and check reviews
Question 18: What is “phishing”?
A) A fun hobby that involves fishing
B) A cyber-attack where scammers trick people into giving sensitive info
C) A way to boost your internet speed
D) An online game
Correct Answer: B) A cyber-attack where scammers trick people into giving sensitive info
Question 19: How can you protect your financial info online?
A) Enter your credit card info on any website that asks
B) Only use trusted and secure payment methods
C) Send your banking details via email to keep them safe
D) Save your card info on every site for convenience
Correct Answer: B) Only use trusted and secure payment methods
Question 20: Why is it important to update your software and apps regularly?
A) Updates only add new features, so it’s not that important
B) Updates fix security holes and protect against hackers
C) Updates slow down your device
D) Updates erase all your files
Correct Answer: B) Updates fix security holes and protect against hackers
Now that you’ve learned a bit about your online identity, it is now time to also protect it! Be careful on what you post online, who you make “angry” because even your face can now be used with AI SCAMS … The topic is really large to discuss so expect a few more articles on internet security posted on our blog.
Stay safe online and enjoy your day! If you need any help don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ve saved many people from getting scammed in Slovenija (lots of crypto scams lately), maybe we can also help you too.
