International Mobile Safety Tips

International Mobile Safety Tips Logos

The STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign is working with its international partners to begin a global collaboration on mobile security education and awareness.

STOP. THINK. CONNECT. has partnered with the National Cyber Security Alliance and our international partners InfollutionZero, the Cyber Security Awareness Alliance in Singapore, and the iZ HERO Project to develop a set of International Mobile Safety Tips.

The International Mobile Safety Tips were released on October 29, 2013 to coincide with the 10th year of National Cyber Security Awareness Month in the United States and the 4th annual Asia Pacific Economic-Cooperation Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC-TEL)'s Cyber Security Awareness Day. The tips also align with existing Cyber Security Awareness Month activities that occur in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other countries every October.

The goal of the campaign is to use harmonized messaging to reach out to children, families, and schools across the world, and to provide them with core principles and simple tips that can help people of all ages enjoy safer and more secure use of digital devices and the Internet.

As part of the campaign, the International Mobile Safety Tips will be released to teach children about basic rules for using their devices more safely in daily life. An interactive online game, which was developed by the iZ HERO Project, will be freely available and provide children with a game-playing experience to learn about various cyber-issues such as online predators, game addiction and cyber-bullying.

International Mobile Safety Tips

The first step is to STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Take security precautions, understand the consequences of your actions and enjoy the benefits of the Internet.

Keep a Clean Machine

Keep software current. Running the most recent versions of your mobile operating system, security software, apps and Web browsers is among the best defenses against malware, viruses and other online threats.

Protect Your Personal Information

Secure your device. Use a strong passcode to lock your smartphone or tablet.
Secure your accounts. Enable two-step authentication when offered, and change passwords to any accounts you accessed while connected to an unfamiliar network.
Think before you app. Understand what information (i.e., location, your contacts, social networking profiles, etc.) the app would access and share before you download it. Always download apps from trusted sources.
Back it up. Sync your contacts, photos, videos and other mobile device data with another device or cloud service on a weekly basis.

Connect with Care

Get savvy about Wi-Fi hotspots. When using a public or unsecured wireless connection, avoid using sites and apps that require personal information like log-ins.
Disable auto-connect. Automatically connecting to networks can leave you vulnerable to hackers and others. Switch off your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections when not in use.
When in doubt, throw it out. Delete any online communications (i.e., texts, emails, social media posts) that look suspicious, even if you think you know the source.
Protect your money. When banking or shopping online, use only trusted apps or websites that begin with https://.

Be a Good Online Citizen

The Golden Rule. Be respectful on your device. Treat others as you would like to be treated when texting, calling or using social networks.
Share with care. Be a true friend when taking and sharing photos and videos with your smartphone. Get permission from friends before you share them via text or social networks.
Be Web wise. Stay informed of the latest updates to your device and apps. Know what to do if something goes wrong.

Lastly, remember: Safer for me, more secure for all. What you do online has the potential to affect everyone. Practicing good online habits benefits the global digital community.