How students, parents and guardians can stay safe online

Today, the digital world touches almost every aspect of our lives. From the moment we wake up until the lights go off at the end of the night, many of us are continually connected to a screen for work and play.

That’s especially true for younger generations. While some of us still remember the days of the large-scale family computer in the living room connecting to dial-up, and sounding like a robot being put through a mangle in the process, that’s not what 2025 Britain looks like for young people anymore. Their reality is far different.

As recent TV shows and headlines have shown us, it’s essential to equip students with the skills to use the internet safely – and that means parents and guardians need those skills too. How can we help our kids stay safe online if we don’t understand it?

And there’s no doubt children need our help. While they are digital natives, according to many studies Generation Z is the most likely to fall for online scams and get their accounts hacked, and they are not at all immune to misinformation.

Remember, Virgin Media Advanced Security is packed with family-friendly features and flexible tools to keep kids safe online and help them find a healthy balance, including customisable blocks on stuff they don’t need to see. You can also protect family time by hitting pause on the internet or putting time limits on kids’ devices. Even better, you can customise these settings for each child. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find out how you can get a no-commitment three-month trial. 

To help you and your family stay safe, we have put together this quick internet safety course to provide the basics of online security. Even if you’re already familiar with it, a little revising can never hurt – and besides, threats evolve all the time.

The focus is on learning safe internet practices, with security apps serving as a helpful backup. So let’s dive in…

Phishing attempts are among the most common online threats. They often come as emails or messages that look real but are traps designed to steal your personal information. A phishing attack tricks you into opening a link, which then directs you to a malicious website. You may also encounter phishing links in YouTube video descriptions and any service with a chat option.

How to recognise phishing: Look out for red flags such as a sense of urgency, unfamiliar senders, dodgy links and requests for personal information. Phishing attacks usually lure you with free stuff, prizes or big discounts – or alternatively shock you with account suspension warnings or payment notifications. Phishing sites look real but their web addresses often give them away, with typos, odd characters and unknown domains such as “rnicrosoft.com.ru”. 

Verify sources and avoid clicking: Hover over links to see the actual URL before clicking; on mobile, tap and hold a link. Ensure it matches the legitimate website: for example, a link claiming to be from your bank should direct to the bank’s official website. Generally, it’s better to not follow links in messages. Instead, go to the official website through your browser and sign in there.

Backup tip: An internet security app that blocks malicious web pages can protect you against phishing links even if you unknowingly open one. For example, Virgin Media Advanced Security blocks malicious pages automatically as you browse.

When browsing the web, it’s crucial to put measures in place to protect privacy, keep you safe and avoid falling victim to malicious websites and software.

Use secure websites: Always check the URL begins with https. Websites with https encrypt your data, making it harder for attackers to intercept. This is especially important for login and shopping pages. 

Use VPN on public WiFi: When connecting to a public WiFi at school – or at a café, a library or anywhere anyone else can log on – always use a VPN, which encrypts your web traffic. If you don’t, what you do online and even your passwords may be intercepted by hackers.

Recognise malicious websites: Creating convincing fake websites is easy, particularly with AI. So pay attention to URLs (as mentioned above) and be ultra-cautious when sites ask you to enter personal information.

Backup tip: Internet security blocks malicious downloads automatically, checks if the websites you’re connecting to are safe and spots fake web shops.

Managing privacy settings on social media and other platforms is vital for controlling who can see your personal information. As well as protection, proper privacy settings can decrease annoying spam requests.

Adjust privacy settings: Review and adjust the privacy settings on your social media accounts. Limit the visibility of your profile so only friends can see your posts. Be cautious about what personal information you share and don’t accept friend requests from unknown profiles. 

Manage permissions: Check app permissions on your devices and disable access to sensitive data for apps that don’t need it. Many apps collect data about you, and you might not always know how it’s handled and what is done with it. If you have apps you don’t use any more, delete them and their related accounts.

Control your digital footprint: Be mindful of the information you post online. Remember that once something is online, it can be difficult or even impossible to remove completely.

Backup tip: Many social media platforms and apps offer privacy checkup tools to help you review and adjust your settings easily.

A strong password is your first line of defence against unauthorised access to your accounts. 

Use unique passwords: Create a different password for each account to prevent a single data breach from compromising multiple accounts. Because online accounts often include sensitive personal information, it’s important to protect them. Some accounts, like gaming profiles, can include valuable content you want to protect.

Make passwords complex: Use a mix of letters, numbers and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or common words. The longer the password is, the better.

Update quickly: Change your passwords immediately if you suspect an account has been compromised.

Backup tip: Password managers can securely store and manage your passwords, making it easier to maintain strong, unique passwords across multiple accounts. Active, 24/7 identity monitoring warns you if your credentials have been leaked online, giving you time to change them and protect your accounts.

Malware can disrupt your device and steal personal information. In fact, 89% of Windows malware aims to steal information. That’s because personal details are valuable to criminals. Thus, preventing malware infections on both computers and mobile devices is essential for safe internet use.

Be cautious with downloads: Don’t open email attachments from unknown senders. Download software from only trusted and official websites. And avoid clicking on pop-ups or ads that offer free downloads or prizes.

Keep software updated: Regularly update your operating system, browser and apps. Updates often include security patches that protect against known vulnerabilities. Enable automatic updates on all platforms and don’t delay any recommended updates. 

Use automatic updates: Enable automatic updates for your operating system and apps to ensure you receive the latest security patches without delay. 

Backup Tip: Antivirus software can detect and remove malware before it causes harm. Virgin Media Advanced Security continuously updates and is always ready to block the latest threats.

By going through this mini course, you will be better equipped to navigate the digital world securely. And you can go through these points together with your children or anyone you think needs to know them. After all, the online world is getting harder to avoid, so everyone should be familiar with these basics.

But don’t just stop there. As explained in this article, the best way to stay safe online is a combination of knowhow and security apps. While accidents can happen to anyone, security is there to protect against the threats you don’t notice. And you can get it all in one place. Virgin Media Advanced Security includes antivirus features and a secure browser, and it also puts family-friendly parental controls at your fingertips so you and your kids can enjoy all the stuff you love on the internet in a safer, healthier way. And you can get it for your whole family with just one subscription.

Kick your security up a notch with our award-winning Advanced Security add-on for £3 a month. It’s packed with premium features that’ll keep you safe on as many devices as you need – even when you’re not connected to your home WiFi. Sign up here for Virgin Media Advanced Security to start your no-commitment three-month trial today. No bank or credit card details are required for the trial. Then download it on all your online devices to get going.

Don’t forget that for Virgin Media broadband customers, Essential Security is always on guard, picking up on scam websites and warning you before your devices are exposed to anything malicious. That means your family can browse to the max, knowing we’ve got your backs. The best bit? It’s built into your home’s WiFi network, at no extra cost – and it’s automatically activated when you join us, so you don’t need to lift a finger. Manage your Essential Security, including parental controls, from My Virgin Media.