Six ways to celebrate Safer Internet Day.

The internet is a fantastic place, full of great information and fun ways to stay connected with your friends. But there’s also a darker side to the online world, and it’s better to be clued up than taken in.

Internet safety’s not something to be worried about, but it pays to keep yourself informed and aware of the risks. So to celebrate Safer Internet Day, we’ve put together a list of six tips to help you stay secure when you’re using the internet on your mobile phone, computer or tablet.

1. Make sure your password’s secure.

How many times have you changed your password to something long and cryptic, only to have forgotten it the next time you need to log in? Or worse, have you got a password that’s so predictable that your dog could get into your Facebook account?

Take a look at some howlers in our roundup of the top 20 least secure passwords – and make sure yours isn’t on there. If it is, then you need some help keeping your accounts secure. Read our tips for a more secure password here.

2. If you’ve got kids or don’t want to see adult content, switch on Three’s filter.

If you’re using the internet on our 3G network, we’ve got a built-in filter that blocks unsuitable or adult material, such as nudity, violence, racism, and websites that could expose you to hacking, phishing and other harmful content. Find out more about our adult filter here.

If you’re on Pay Monthly and want to block this kind of content when using your phone's internet browser, text the word Filter to 33333 and our filter will be applied automatically. All our Pay As You Go phones have the filter switched on by default. Read more about parental controls here.

3. Make sure you’re safe from online bullies and predators.

On the internet, it’s hard to know if people are who they say they are. That’s why it’s especially important to be careful on social networks. So by all means use them to stay in touch with your real life friends, but be on your guard when people you don’t know contact you, ask for your phone number, or ask to meet you.

It’s easy to say things in an email or chat message that you’d never say to a person’s face. Anyone can contact you and say anything they like – whether it’s flattering, silly, or just plain mean. If you’re under 18 and you’re getting calls or messages that make you feel uneasy, tell someone you trust or call 333 free from your Three mobile. Read more advice for young people using social networks and chatrooms.

4. Be on your guard: don’t fall for phishing scams.

Phishing is a scam where criminals send emails to thousands of people in an attempt to steal your personal details and commit fraud. The emails appear to come from banks and other trusted organisations – but in fact they’re a way of tricking you into sending them your personal information.

You might have experienced a telephone version of this where you get a call out of the blue, asking you to ‘verify’ your bank account details or credit card number in order to unfreeze your account, or claim prize money.

We’ve put together some helpful advice on what to look out for and ways to protect yourself from phishing.

5. Protect your identity by being careful what you choose to share.

In a world where sharing (and over-sharing) is normal, it no longer feels odd to broadcast details about your house, birthdays and new phone numbers on social networks. But by piecing together your date of birth, check-ins and contact info, it might be surprisingly easy to trace you. And armed with your personal details, identity thieves have all they need to apply for credit cards in your name.

Make sure you’re aware of your privacy settings and take a second to think each time you update your social networks with any personal information.

6. Invest in anti-virus software.

It’s good practice to install security software on your computer. McAfee, Norton and Kapersky offer security software that provides protection against viruses. If you have a PC, there are also some good options available from Microsoft for free.

You can also get antivirus programs for your mobile phone, which scan any apps you download to make sure they aren’t carrying malware or viruses. Discover more about malware here.