With Great Connectivity, Comes Great Responsibility

This past week, on February 11th, we've seen some celebrations for Safer Internet Day a little bit everywhere around the globe.

Nowadays, we are all about the digital, and Mercedes-Benz.io's work and mission is no exception. Dealing with information, be it personal or business, has revealed itself to be a core element of our professional lives. Not always "the more you share, the more you care" reveals to be true.

The main goal of celebrating this date is mostly to empower all people to safely navigate on the internet, and not to discipline behaviours.

So, please join us as we explore some essential tips and practices to protect ourselves in the online world. The internet has both sides of the coin: if, on one hand, it presents a vast land with lots of opportunities, on the other hand, it presents significant risks, that may stretch from cyberbullying to identity theft or other social engineering methods.

Here are some specific situations that call for an enhanced vigilance from each and every one of us:

Is Sharing (Always) Caring?

Not really. There is certainly information that is best to be kept away from the public eye. Here, we'd like to highlight 3 profiles:

• The Savvy Sharer: the one that thoroughly considers what to share and with whom.
• The Patient Poster: the one that thinks before posting. Give yourself time!
• The Informed Internaut: the one that understands the risks and other consequences of posting information.

Wait, What Was My Password Again?

• Be a Lockmaster - The secret to safeguarding your accounts is having a strong and different password for each service - but who can remember them all? To make this easier, use a password manager, which keeps your login secure and available when you need it.
• Be a Password Wizard: Select a lengthy password that is difficult to figure out and that you don't use for anything else. It should contain a combination of capital, lowercase, and special characters. - A long password is good, but MFA is better!. Use whenever you can.
• Be a Data Defender: recognize what information you have stored, what you need to secure and for how long.

Phishing for Compliments? Watch out!

• Not everyone acts in good faith. Whenever a suspicious email lands on your inbox, report it asap. Remember: if it smells phishy, it probably is.
• Be a Trouble Blocker: block mean-spirited and/or inappropriate behaviours.
• Make internet safer and amplify its power by spreading positivity.

Safe & Secure Online Shopping

Online shopping is convenient, but it also comes with risks. Shop only on trustworthy websites, look for safe payment methods, and be cautious of offers that appear too good to be true to protect yourself.

• Be a Smart Shopper: Prior to completing a purchase, always confirm the legitimacy of a website. Check the URL for HTTPS and read reviews.
• Be a Payment Pro: by avoiding storing payment information on websites and using safe payment options like digital wallets or temporary credit cards.

Another Software Update? Ugh.

Despite the temptation to hit "remind me later," software upgrades are essential for both performance and security. Keeping up to date helps protect your data from cybercriminals who frequently take advantage of outdated technology.

• Be a Security Guardian: To make sure your devices and apps are always safe, turn on automatic updates whenever you can.
• Be a Tech-Savvy User: Make sure to frequently check for updates, particularly for operating systems, browsers, and antivirus software.

Logging Out: Wrapping Up the Security Game

There is no doubt that the internet is a powerful tool, which has been shaping the way we live and behave. Like other weapons, and even now with AI, it can be used both for good and bad, regardless of whether we are seasoned techies or newbies in the digital world.

So remember: with great connectivity, comes great responsibility.