June is Internet Safety Month

May 31, 2026

The internet has become a lifeline for most people and businesses. While the internet offers opportunities, it also poses significant risks that require vigilance and education. Internet safety month is a reminder for everyone to make secure passwords, update software, monitor access for young children, and teach older children to recognize dangers. “Stranger Danger” is not just in person anymore.

Here are four steps you can take to help protect yourself.

Use strong passwords. “Strong” means at least 16 characters, random, and unique to each account. Use a password manager to automatically generate, store, and fill in passwords for you.
Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA). MFA provides an extra layer of security in addition to a password when logging into accounts and apps, like a fingerprint, a code from an authenticator app, or a code sent to your phone. Enable it on any account that offers it, especially your email, social media, and financial accounts.
Update software. When devices, apps, or software programs notify us that updates are available, install them as soon as possible. Updates fix security risks to better protect our data. Turn on automatic updates to make it even easier.
Recognize and report phishing. Learn to recognize signs of phishing—messages designed to trick you into downloading malware (malicious programs) or giving personal information to a criminal. If an offer is too good to be true, it probably is. If the message is also alarming and requires urgent action, it might be a phishing message. Do not click or engage; delete the message.

For more information, visit National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provide tools and resources to help individuals and families stay safe online.