Today is Safer Internet Day, which sounds like something your IT teacher invented to justify a double period in the computer room. In fact, it is a proper global thing, and it matters more than ever because the internet has gone from a charming novelty to the place where we bank, flirt, argue with strangers about sourdough and run entire businesses. Shambolic, really, that we are all still using "password123".
The State of Play
The internet is not going to get safer on its own. Scammers are getting cleverer, phishing emails are getting harder to spot, and your mam is one dodgy link away from accidentally transferring her pension to a man named Kevin in a call centre. We adore the internet. We also respect that it bites.
Business-Sized Problems
For small businesses, the risks are not theoretical. They are real, expensive and surprisingly common in the North East. Here is the ugly shortlist:
- Phishing: An email that looks like it is from your bank but is in fact from a man in a tracksuit.
- Ransomware: Your files held hostage until you pay in cryptocurrency you do not understand.
- Credential stuffing: Hackers trying your LinkedIn password on your banking app, because you reused it, you chaos agent.
- Social engineering: Someone ringing your office pretending to be from IT. They are not from IT.
- Dodgy Wi-Fi: That cafe on Northumberland Street with the unsecured network. Lovely scones, terrible security.
Things You Can Do Today
We are not here to terrify you into living in a bunker. We are here to tell you that basic digital hygiene is genuinely all most businesses need. Install a password manager. Turn on two-factor authentication for everything. Update your software when it asks, not in six weeks. Train your staff to spot a suspicious email, because your front-of-house apprentice is statistically the person who will click it.
Back up your data, properly, somewhere that is not the same laptop the data lives on. Use a VPN if your team works remotely. Check your website's SSL certificate has not lapsed, because nothing tanks customer trust like a big red "NOT SECURE" warning in the browser bar.
Your Customers Are Watching
Here is the bit that makes marketing people sit up. Safety is a brand value now. Customers want to know their data is handled with care. They want clear privacy policies, sensible cookie banners, and no weird tracking pixels they did not agree to. If your website looks suss, they will bounce, and Google will notice.
If you want your website to feel trustworthy and tidy, have a look at our piece on website maintenance and our thoughts on keeping your business organised. Safe and tidy are close cousins.
A Word on Kids
Safer Internet Day started as a campaign to protect young people online, and that bit still matters. If you are a parent, have the awkward conversations. Talk about what to share, what not to share, and why that "free V-Bucks" link is absolutely not giving out free V-Bucks. Kids are smart. They just need the context.
Our Unasked-For Opinion
We think businesses should take the lead here. If you handle customer data, you have a duty of care. Not just legally under GDPR, though yes, that too. Morally. Practically. Reputationally. Treat your customers' data like you would treat their nan's wedding ring, because that is roughly how much they care about it.
Is Your Website Safe and Sound?
We will audit your site for security, privacy and general sketchiness, and tell you exactly what to fix.
Request a Safety AuditThe internet is a tool. Like any tool, it is brilliant when used well and catastrophic when used badly. Spend a bit of time today tightening up your passwords, updating your software and thinking about your customers. Future you will be extremely grateful. So will your insurer.
