Safer Internet Day, celebrated on February 11, is a global initiative created to promote a safer and more responsible use of online technology. It brings together individuals, organizations, and governments to raise awareness and drive change for a safer online environment.
To commemorate the day, we are raising awareness about issues in online account security with the Open Rights Group.
What is the Open Rights Group?
The Open Rights Group is the leading grassroots organization in the UK dedicated to advocating for digital rights. It engages in campaigning for all individuals’ online privacy and freedom, and takes legal action to oppose any threats to our fundamental human rights.
Our research: a closer look at data breaches
Our study on global data breaches shows that over 57 million online user online accounts were leaked in the UK in 2024. That translates to two leaked accounts every second. This figure highlights a critical need for improved security measures.
Our commitment to a safer internet
We are a cybersecurity company dedicated to advancing internet safety and security. Raising awareness with the Open Rights Group, a prominent advocate for digital rights and freedoms, we aim to address these challenges and develop innovative solutions and strategies to safeguard users’ privacy.
As part of our efforts, we sought James Baker’s, the Platform Power Programme Manager’s at the Open Rights Group, top recommendations for staying safe online:
Where possible you should consider accessing a social network site through a browser with anti-tracking, and privacy friendly plug-ins settings turned on. This is because apps tend to collect more personal information about us, for example our location data.
People should also be wary of revealing personal information that could be used to target them in a scam, or used to gain access to systems. Many seemingly innocent pieces of information we give away, when combined could enable a hacker to gain access to one of your systems, or worse a stalker or predator to target you in real life.
The importance of online privacy among young users
Protecting online privacy is especially important for young people — the most active media users. That’s why the Open Rights Group and Surfshark want to empower them with the knowledge to protect their privacy. James Baker from the Open Rights Group elaborates more on why it’s vital to protect young people online:
Everyone is at risk, but this is particularly important for some groups of people who need to stay private for their own safety – for example, journalists, lawyers, human rights campaigners, domestic abuse survivors, and the LGBTQ+ community. It’s also important for young people who might be new to navigating online risks or find themselves more likely to be targeted by predatory behavior.
Protecting privacy online helps to keep us safe and secure in real life.
Empower yourself: protect your online presence
As we mark Safer Internet Day with the Open Rights Group, we want to remind everyone that securing the online environment is a collective responsibility. Be active, update your knowledge, and use the highest security measures. Together, we can build a safer, more resilient internet for all.