How to Keep Your Information Safe Online
A simple guide to understanding and fighting digital bad guys.
The Huge Cost of Online Crime
$10.5 Trillion
Online crime costs a crazy amount of money – about $10.5 TRILLION by 2025. That’s like taking money from everyone’s pockets!
How Cybercrime Money Grows (in Trillions of Dollars)
Bad guys online are stealing more and more money each year. It’s growing super fast!
Money Lost by People of Different Ages (2024)
Sadly, older people lose the most money to online criminals. Everyone needs to be careful!
Who Are the Online Bad Guys?
Big Government Hackers
These are super-smart hackers working for other countries. They want to steal secrets or mess up important things like power plants.
Cyber Gangs
These are like real gangs, but they operate online. They want to steal your money, lock your computer until you pay them, or steal company secrets. They are very organized.
Online Protesters
These hackers want to make a point about something they believe in. They might make websites slow down to get attention.
Angry Employees
Sometimes, people who used to work at a company (or still do) might steal information because they’re mad or want money. They already know how things work inside!
Regular Hackers
These are people who hack for fun, to show off, or to get a little money. They often use tools that other, smarter hackers made.
Oops! Accidents
Sometimes, people just make mistakes, like leaving private information where everyone can see it. These accidents can be just as bad as a hacker attack.
🛡️ HACKERS RELY ON YOUR IGNORANCE
Defense relies on your knowledge. In the Mentorship, we teach you how to harden your digital life so you stop being an easy target.
➤ Harden Your Digital DefensesHow They Attack You
Top Online Crimes People Report (2024)
Many people get tricked by fake emails, messages, or websites. It shows that being careful with your *online personal information* is super important!
Their Sneaky Plan to Attack You
Sometimes, bad guys use a trick to make you look one way while they do something else sneaky.
Step 1: Make Noise
They might make your internet super slow or crash a website to get everyone’s attention.
Step 2: Sneak In
While you’re distracted, they quietly sneak into your computer or online accounts.
Step 3: Steal Your Stuff
Once they’re in, they can steal your private pictures, passwords, or other personal details from your online accounts. They might even lock your computer until you pay them.
🔍 ATTACKS ARE CALCULATED. NOT RANDOM.
They look for holes in your armor. Learn “The Audit”—a systematic way to find your vulnerabilities before they do.
➤ Spot The SetupHow to Stay Safe Online
Keeping yourself safe online is like building a strong fort. You need different layers of protection.
Simple Steps to Stay Safe Online
- ✓ Strong Passwords & Extra Locks: Use long, weird passwords for every online account. And turn on ‘Multi-Factor Authentication’.
- ✓ Update Your Stuff: Always update your phone, computer, and apps.
- ✓ Antivirus & Firewalls: Use special software that fights off viruses.
- ✓ Safe WiFi: Make sure your home WiFi has a password.
- ✓ Lock Up Your Data: Make sure your private information is scrambled (encrypted).
- ✓ Think Before You Share: Be careful what you post about yourself online.
- ✓ Check Privacy Settings: Make sure only people you trust can see your information.
How Companies Help Keep You Safe
- ✓ Backup Your Files: Companies keep copies of your important files safely.
- ✓ Emergency Plan: Companies have plans for what to do if they get attacked.
- ✓ Email Guards: Companies use tools to stop fake emails.
- ✓ Check for Weak Spots: Companies regularly look for weak spots.
- ✓ Only Give Access When Needed: Limit who sees information.
Being Smart Online
- ✓ Learn & Be Aware: Learn about new tricks bad guys use.
- ✓ Don’t Click on Weird Stuff: If an email or text looks suspicious, don’t click.
- ✓ Report Anything Strange: If you see something weird online, tell someone!
Your Top Questions About Online Safety
What is “personal information” online?
This includes your name, home address, phone number, email, birthday, and even things you post about yourself on social media. It’s anything that can be used to identify you.
How do bad guys get my information?
They often trick you with fake emails (called phishing), get into websites or companies that have your info, or even buy your details from special companies that collect them.
What is a “data broker”?
A data broker is a company that collects and sells your personal information (like your address, phone number, and interests) to other businesses or people, often without you even knowing they have it.
Why is it bad if my info is online?
If your personal information is easily found online, it can lead to problems like identity theft (where someone pretends to be you), annoying scams, or even people finding out where you live.
What’s the easiest way to protect myself?
The simplest ways are to use very strong and different passwords for all your online accounts, turn on extra security (like a code sent to your phone when you log in), and always be careful about what you click on or share online.
How to Keep Your Information Safe Online
A simple guide to understanding and fighting digital bad guys.
The Huge Cost of Online Crime
$10.5 Trillion
Online crime costs a crazy amount of money – about $10.5 TRILLION by 2025. That’s like taking money from everyone’s pockets!
How Cybercrime Money Grows (in Trillions of Dollars)
Bad guys online are stealing more and more money each year. It’s growing super fast!
Money Lost by People of Different Ages (2024)
Sadly, older people lose the most money to online criminals. Everyone needs to be careful!
Who Are the Online Bad Guys?
Big Government Hackers
These are super-smart hackers working for other countries. They want to steal secrets or mess up important things like power plants.
Cyber Gangs
These are like real gangs, but they operate online. They want to steal your money, lock your computer until you pay them, or steal company secrets. They are very organized.
Online Protesters
These hackers want to make a point about something they believe in. They might make websites slow down to get attention.
Angry Employees
Sometimes, people who used to work at a company (or still do) might steal information because they’re mad or want money. They already know how things work inside!
Regular Hackers
These are people who hack for fun, to show off, or to get a little money. They often use tools that other, smarter hackers made.
Oops! Accidents
Sometimes, people just make mistakes, like leaving private information where everyone can see it. These accidents can be just as bad as a hacker attack.
How They Attack You
Top Online Crimes People Report (2024)
Many people get tricked by fake emails, messages, or websites. It shows that being careful with your *online personal information* is super important!
Their Sneaky Plan to Attack You
Sometimes, bad guys use a trick to make you look one way while they do something else sneaky.
Step 1: Make Noise
They might make your internet super slow or crash a website to get everyone’s attention.
Step 2: Sneak In
While you’re distracted, they quietly sneak into your computer or online accounts.
Step 3: Steal Your Stuff
Once they’re in, they can steal your private pictures, passwords, or other personal details from your online accounts. They might even lock your computer until you pay them.
How to Stay Safe Online
Keeping yourself safe online is like building a strong fort. You need different layers of protection.
Simple Steps to Stay Safe Online
- ✓ Strong Passwords & Extra Locks: Use long, weird passwords for every online account. And turn on ‘Multi-Factor Authentication’ – it’s like a second lock, often a code sent to your phone.
- ✓ Update Your Stuff: Always update your phone, computer, and apps. Updates fix holes that bad guys can sneak through.
- ✓ Antivirus & Firewalls: Use special software that fights off viruses and acts like a guard for your internet connection.
- ✓ Safe WiFi: Make sure your home WiFi has a password, and don’t use public WiFi for important things like banking unless you use a special tool called a VPN.
- ✓ Lock Up Your Data: Make sure your private information is scrambled (encrypted) so no one else can read it.
- ✓ Think Before You Share: Be careful what you post about yourself online, like on social media. Don’t share too much personal stuff like your full birthday, address, or phone number with just anyone.
- ✓ Check Privacy Settings: On social media and other apps, look at your privacy settings. Make sure only people you trust can see your information.
- ✓ Be Smart About Quizzes & Games: Some online quizzes or games ask for a lot of personal details. Be careful, as these can sometimes be tricks to get your information.
How Companies Help Keep You Safe
- ✓ Backup Your Files: Companies keep copies of your important files in a safe place.
- ✓ Emergency Plan: Companies have plans for what to do if they get attacked.
- ✓ Email Guards: Companies use tools to stop fake emails from reaching you.
- ✓ Check for Weak Spots: Companies regularly look for weak spots in their systems to fix them.
- ✓ Only Give Access When Needed: Companies make sure only certain people can see certain information.
Being Smart Online
- ✓ Learn & Be Aware: Learn about new tricks bad guys use. Watch out for strange emails, messages, or websites that ask for your info.
- ✓ Don’t Click on Weird Stuff: If an email, text, or pop-up looks suspicious, don’t click on links, open attachments, or type in your personal info.
- ✓ Report Anything Strange: If you see something weird online, tell someone!
Your Top Questions About Online Safety
What is “personal information” online?
This includes your name, home address, phone number, email, birthday, and even things you post about yourself on social media. It’s anything that can be used to identify you.
How do bad guys get my information?
They often trick you with fake emails (called phishing), get into websites or companies that have your info, or even buy your details from special companies that collect them.
What is a “data broker”?
A data broker is a company that collects and sells your personal information (like your address, phone number, and interests) to other businesses or people, often without you even knowing they have it.
Why is it bad if my info is online?
If your personal information is easily found online, it can lead to problems like identity theft (where someone pretends to be you), annoying scams, or even people finding out where you live.
What’s the easiest way to protect myself?
The simplest ways are to use very strong and different passwords for all your online accounts, turn on extra security (like a code sent to your phone when you log in), and always be careful about what you click on or share online.
Your Personal Information is Out There. We Can Help.
Even with the best online safety habits, your personal information might already be floating around on the internet, collected by companies called “data brokers.” These companies gather and sell your data to others.
Opterly helps you take back control. We work to remove your personal information from these data brokers, making it harder for bad guys to find and use your details.
Learn How Opterly Can Protect You
Our Community’s Peace of Mind
People who take steps to protect their online information often experience these benefits:
Increased Safety
Feeling more secure knowing your personal data is less exposed.
Fewer Annoying Calls
Less spam, telemarketing, and unwanted contact from unknown sources.
Reduced Identity Theft Risk
Making it harder for criminals to steal your identity.
Better Control
Taking charge of what personal details are available online.
More Peace of Mind
Feeling calmer and more confident about your online privacy.
Less Targeted Ads
Receiving fewer ads based on your private online activities.
Over 90% of users report increased peace of mind after data removal.