Digital Safety & Privacy

Small steps, big protection

You don't need to be a tech expert to stay safer online. Start with what feels manageable — and if someone may be watching your phone, make changes carefully, because sudden changes can sometimes alert an abuser.

Protect your accounts

• Use a different strong password or PIN for your phone, email, social media and mobile money
• Turn on two-step verification (a code sent by SMS or app)
• Never share passwords or one-time codes — not even with a partner
• Log out of accounts on shared or borrowed phones

Check your phone

• Review which apps can see your location, camera and microphone
• Look for apps you don't remember installing
• Check "logged-in devices" in WhatsApp, Facebook, Google and other accounts and remove ones you don't recognise
• Turn off location sharing you didn't choose

Social media privacy

• Set profiles to private and limit who can message you
• Think before posting your school, home area, or live location
• Block and report accounts that harass you

Protecting children and young people online

Children and teenagers can be targeted through games, social media and chat apps.

• Talk openly and calmly about what they do online, without blame
• Teach them never to send photos or meet someone they only know online without a trusted adult
• Explain that anyone asking for secrets, photos or money is a warning sign
• Make sure they know they can tell you if something goes wrong — and that they won't be punished for being targeted

If a child is being exploited or abused online, report it. Child protection services and the Victim Support Unit can help.

If your device may be monitored

Use a trusted device — a friend's phone, a library or school computer — to look for help, change passwords or contact a responder.