Simple steps to keep yourself (and future self) safe

When you haven't experienced a cyber attack, it can be easy to let good habits slip.

See how simple actions today can keep you safe tomorrow, next month, and beyond.

The reality today

Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated every day.

Police-reported cyber-related fraud nearly doubled between 2019 and 2024, from 22,746 incidents to 46,301.^{Footnote 1}

Almost one in six Canadians (more than six million!) report being a victim of a social media account hack.^{Footnote 2}

65% of online Canadians are worried about AI-related cybercrime.^{Footnote 2}

26% of Canadians said they feel unprepared to face cyber threats.^{Footnote 2}

The changing landscape

Individuals and businesses alike are figuring out how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make their jobs easier, while cyber criminals also use AI to create more convincing phishing scams or automated cyber attacks. Many Canadians aren't sure how to protect themselves online.

40% of online Canadians were not confident in their ability to identify content that is generated by AI.^{Footnote 2}

Where to start

Cyber security doesn't have to be complicated. Here's what you could do today:

• If you're in the 70% of Canadians who don't have a password manager^{Footnote 2}
  • You could… Find out how to choose the right password manager.
  • Quick tip: Choose one with strong encryption and built-in autofill.
• If you're in the 49% of Canadians who don't have automatic updates enabled^{Footnote 2}
  • You could… Learn how to update software.
  • Quick tip: Go to Settings > Software Update and turn on auto-updates
• If you're in the 27% of Canadians who aren't very confident they can spot a phishing scam^{Footnote 2}
  • You could… Learn about the 7 red flags of phishing.
  • Quick tip: Look for typos in the sender, ignore urgent threats, and hover over links first.
• If you're in the 52% of Canadians who don't often back up their devices^{Footnote 3}
  • You could… Learn how to back up your data.
  • Quick tip: Back up weekly to a cloud or external drive.
• If you're in the 10% of Canadians who haven't heard of multi-factor authentication (MFA)^{Footnote 3}
  • You could… Learn more about MFA.
  • Quick tip: Turn on MFA in your account's security settings using SMS or an authenticator app.

Why your future self will thank you

Cyber attacks can happen when you least expect it. Waiting too long before taking action could leave you vulnerable.

One thing the data isn't showing? There's no report that indicates Canadians regret getting cyber safe! Take action now and your future self will thank you.