Feel safe when you are online 10 tips

Tip 1 Use difficult passwordsWe advise you to use difficult passwords. The chance is then very small that someone else can guess your passwords. This way you ensure that no one secretly logs into your accounts. For example, your Facebook or your e-mail. How do you create a difficult password? Use letters, numbers and punctuation marks. Create a long password.

Also note the following:- don’t use the same password everywhere- change your password as often as possible

Tip 2 Always log offIt is important that you always log off if you are not using an account. Often we stay logged in to apps like Instagram. Does someone else use your computer, tablet or phone? Then he can also use your Instagram! So always log off. And never tick ‘remember user-name and password.’

Tip 3 Take a look at your privacy settingsAlmost all apps have their own privacy settings. Take a good look at these settings. You can indicate here what parts of your profile others are allowed to see. For example, on Facebook you can choose that only ‘friends’ see your messages and photos.

Tip 4 Turn off ‘share location’Is ‘share location’ turned on on your phone or tablet? Then that’s handy if you want to use Google Maps or the 9292OV app. But without knowing it, someone else might also see where you are. So turn off location sharing if you don’t need it. For some apps, this can also be done in the settings of the app itself.

Tip 5 Be careful with free WiFiSo nice, free internet! But know that someone else might be able to access your data via this WiFi. So be careful if you use free WiFi. Are you using free WiFi? If so, do not use inter-net banking and do not buy anything with your credit card.Also note the following: - Make sure your home WiFi has a password. And choose a different password than the default password set by the factory.

You want to feel safe in places where you often spend time. Thus, also online. Therefore, it’s important that you not make your details easily known when you use your computer, tablet or phone. Below are 10 tips to prevent this.

Tip 6 Do not send your location with your photosIf you take a photo with your phone, your phone often places your location near the photo. We advise you to turn this off. You can do this using the privacy settings of your phone’s camera. Also note the following: - Do you share your photos with another app, for example Facebook? Then that app can also add your location. So also check the settings of your apps that you share photos with. Tip 7 Use HTTPS as much as possibleIt is best that you use as many secure websites as possible. You recognise such websites from the “https: //” in the address. You can find the address at the top of the screen, in the address bar. Does an address start with http: //? Then it is a ‘normal’ website. Try to replace http with https. Not possible? Then the website does not have a secure version.

Tip 8 Be very careful before linking accountsSometimes it seems very useful to link accounts together. For example, your Instagram and your Facebook. This way, you can easily log in and your photo or message is, in one click, in both apps. Or, for example, linking your agenda to someone else’s. This way, that you can see each other’s appointments. Be very careful before linking accounts. Because if you do it, suddenly (many) more people can see your data.

Tip 9 Use several e-mail addresses E-mail addresses are often free. So you can easily have different e-mail addresses. And you can use these different e-mail addresses for different accounts. For example: - your Hotmail address for Twitter, - your Gmail address for Facebook and - your Yahoo e-mail for Marktplaats [E Bay].This way, nobody can ever log into all of your accounts.Also note the following: - There are many companies and organisations that keep an eye on our e-mails. Do not use your e-mail to send personal information. Change the password of your e-mail as often as possible.

Tip 10 Remove your internet history Internet browsers remember which websites you have been on. You can find a list of these web-sites at ‘history.’ We recommend that you delete this list. This way, someone who uses the com-puter after you cannot see the websites you have visited. This can be done in various ways. - Do you use Google Chrome? Then open an ‘incognito window’ to go to websites. When you are finished, close your internet browser by clicking X. - Do you use Internet Explorer? Then open an ‘in private window’ to go to websites. When you are finished, close your internet browser by clicking X. - Delete your history when you’re done.

Do you need help?Are you a victim of internet crime and would you like to talk to someone about this? Or do you want more information? Then call Slachtofferhulp Nederland: 0900 0101 or go to the website www.slachtofferhulp.nl. They will help you further and give you all the help you need. They provide practical, legal and psycho-logical help.

Are you a victim of domestic violence and is your partner or ex-partner stalking you online? On www.safetyned.org you can read what is best to do in such a situation. Do you want the violence to stop? Then call Veilig Thuis.

Veilig thuis www.vooreenveiligthuis.nl 0800 2000 safetyNed www.safetyned.org 015 284 1000 Slachtofferhulp Nederland www.slachtofferhulp.nl 0900 0101

We have created these tips with the Safety Net Technology Project of the National Network toEnd Domestic Violence. We used material from this project for our tips.