Online safety tips for protecting your digital life

Online security affects nearly everything – from your finances to your personal identity. Whether you’re managing emails or making digital payments, our online safety tips are designed to help you keep safe online and protect your personal information.

The information provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult with a licensed financial adviser or professional before making any financial decisions. Your financial situation is unique, and the information provided may not be suitable for your specific circumstances. We are not liable for any financial decisions or actions you take based on this information.

More of our daily lives now happen online, from staying in touch with friends to managing finances through digital services. With this shift, it has become increasingly important to protect your personal data and financial details.

It comes at a time of widespread and persistent cyber threats. According to the FraudSmart initiative from the Banking & Payments Federation of Ireland, three-quarters of Irish adults are being targeted with online or phone fraud each month. With increasingly sophisticated methods, people of all ages are at risk of identity theft or financial fraud.

Online safety is a particular concern when it comes to children. With the growing popularity of video-sharing platforms, vulnerable sections of the population may be unwittingly exposed to inappropriate content or cyberbullying.

People who are aware of the risks and know how to be safe online might be more cautious when sharing information online. They may also be able to spot threats earlier, which could lower the risk of financial harm.

As technology becomes more integrated into everyday tasks, there are a few small steps people can take to protect their online presence. Taking a proactive approach to online safety – by understanding potential risks and learning how to manage them – can help reduce exposure to threats. Plus, simply knowing how digital services operate and passing that information to young people may support the safer use of online platforms. 

Choosing strong passwords may help protect access to online services across media platforms used by both adults and children. Opting for three unrelated words, combined with symbols and a number, could make a password more difficult to guess than using birthdates or 123456, which is Ireland’s most popular choice. A password manager saves each password securely and autofills them when you need to log in to an account. This is a straightforward internet safety tip that prevents the reuse of a single password across different sites.

Scam attempts don’t always look suspicious at first glance and may appear to come from trusted digital financial services. They might take the form of messages that use personal details or play on your emotions to gain your trust.

One online safety tip is not to reply or click on any links you receive asking for personal information. Instead, try to confirm the validity of the request by visiting the organisation’s official website or using verified contact numbers.

Some phishing emails show clear warning signs, like spelling mistakes, strange formatting, or urgent demands. Look out for unexpected content or anything that feels off. If you think you’ve received illegal messages or suspect fraud, report anything suspicious and seek independent advice before taking further action.

Before you share any personal data online, check that the site uses HTTPS, has a full and accurate web address, and gives easy access to terms and conditions. These details might signal that the platform follows good practice and safety standards, which could help protect your information when using its digital services. Another common piece of advice is to check if a website is legit by looking for supporting details like contact info, regulatory links, privacy policies, or any published safety code.

One online safety tip that might support safer use of technology is to keep your devices secure. This could include:

• Enabling automatic updates, since these fix known security weaknesses.
• Use antivirus tools with real-time scanning, which can reduce the risk of malware.
• Keep all software up to date, because phones, laptops, and tablets are generally safer when software is current.

When using Wi-Fi outside the home, your device could be exposed to risks, especially if you’re accessing digital services like email or online banking. Open networks in places such as cafés or airports may lack proper encryption, which means others might intercept what you send or receive. Using a secure VPN adds a layer of encryption to keep your connection private and help you keep safe online.

At home, changing your router’s default password might boost your network’s overall protection. Another option is to switch on WPA3 encryption, if available. This is the latest Wi-Fi security setting and could keep your home internet connection safer from hackers. These changes may support safer access to your digital services and limit unwanted interference.

Social platforms can expose personal data across media if privacy settings aren’t reviewed. To stay safe online, you may want to check who can see posts, profile details, or contact info, and consider disabling location sharing in app settings to avoid revealing your whereabouts in real time. Avoid posting sensitive content like financial documents or private messages, especially in public or semi-private spaces.

Parents might benefit from reviewing settings with their children, especially when new apps are installed. Following basic advice like limiting profile visibility and reporting anything unusual could help protect digital identities.

Another way to stay safe online could be to create regular, encrypted backups to help protect your digital files from threats like ransomware or data loss. Whether it’s personal files or photos, storing them securely across multiple locations such as external hard drives or on trusted cloud services can offer peace of mind. Your chosen method will depend on the resources you have, such as access to hardware or a stable internet connection.

The final online safety tip is about building confidence online by helping young people develop digital literacy skills that support safer behaviour and help them spot scams early. By improving their understanding of what's appropriate to share and how to verify information, they might avoid being misled or engaging with unsafe content.

Parents may want to explore device settings for built-in controls that allow them to create safe usage boundaries at home. Agreeing on clear household rules or a code of online behaviour might set helpful expectations around device use.

Building trust is key. Encouraging open conversation about online experiences could make it easier for young people to report anything uncomfortable or potentially illegal.

Recent legal updates have introduced new digital protections that aim to reduce harm across online spaces, with a particular focus on video-sharing platforms that have EU headquarters in Ireland. Known as the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, this framework pushes service providers to take greater care with user safety and access to content.

The Act established a regulatory body called Coimisiún na Meán, also referred to as the Media Commission. They set out an Online Safety Code (pdf) containing rules and policies that services must follow to manage harmful or illegal material. Under the rules, platforms such as Instagram and TikTok must now have solid age verification measures in place to protect younger users from harmful content.

For parents and families, the Act could offer reassurance by focusing on measures that may protect young people from digital risks. Overall, these legally defined approaches form a stronger policy structure for staying safe online in Ireland.

Raisin works with partner banks that are part of their respective country’s deposit guarantee scheme. Each bank protects eligible deposits up to €100,000 per person and per bank under its national deposit guarantee scheme, as required by EU law.

Moreover, Raisin Accounts are secured with end-to-end encryption and adaptive security codes that meet the latest standards. Find out more about how to stay safe when using your Raisin Account, or get started by exploring deposit accounts.

Through a single Raisin Account, you can access a wide range of savings accounts from banks across Europe. Our platform offers term deposits and demand deposit accounts at competitive interest rates. When comparing accounts, you’ll always see the partner bank, the terms of the product, and the protection that applies. To get started, simply register for your Raisin Account, which allows you to manage everything securely through one login.

If you have any questions, you can always contact Raisin for support.