Dutch Safer Internet Centre: COVID-19 resources

The Dutch Safer Internet Centre has launched a page (in Dutch) with information on how to stay safe online and respond to online risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Below you can find an outline of the articles and resources published on the page.

Date 2020-04-14 Author BIK Team Section awareness

* Please note – resource listings are being added to regularly, so please check back often for the latest information *

  • Phishing (during the COVID-19 pandemic). Internet criminals are hard at work during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when people are more likely to be anxious or worried, they are more likely to click on a link in a suspicious email. Unfortunately, a lot of phishing emails have been sent in the past few weeks.
  • The importance of a VPN (working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are working from home, and children and young people are all learning from home. Many internet criminals see this as an excellent opportunity to break into your computer. A VPN will ensure that your connection to the internet is secure.
  • Update your devices (especially during the COVID-19 pandemic). Our WiFi connection and smart devices connect us to work, school, family and friends these days. However, they also make us vulnerable. Criminals can hack your files via these devices and steal private data, take over devices, or hack the network of the company for which you work.
  • Safe online shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. If people are afraid to go outside without a mask, or fear that there will be a shortage of food, criminals can tap into these fears. For example, several scam websites supposedly selling masks have been closed. However, there are also plenty of excellent providers that want to support people - it is wise to check the (new) online shops when you want to order something for the first time.
  • Working safely at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. For many people in the Netherlands, working from home during the COVID-19 pandmeic is a new experience. Never before have we seen our colleagues so little and discussed with them so much through online meetings. Do you know what to do to be digitally safe when you work from home?
  • Safe use of wireless internet at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that you and the people you live with use WiFi at home for many activities, there are some things you should pay attention to. How do you protect your WiFi network? How do you use the data bundle of your mobile phone if you do not have WiFi at home or if it is overloaded? Do you use free WiFi from the municipality or a router in a student house?
  • Initiatives from Veiliginternetten.nl partners during the corona crisis. Veiliginternetten.nl has compiled advice and tips from its partners on how to protect yourself against risks on the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes targeted advice for children, young people and their parents, elderly people, SMEs, teachers, and people working from home.

The Dutch Safer Internet Centre also provides helpline services allowing children and young people, and parents and carers to access personalised advice and support. Equally, it provides a hotline for reporting any illegal content you mind find online. Don't hesitate to contact them in case of need!

In addition, we'll be bringing you a range of articles and insights on the opportunities and challenges of being online during COVID-19 in the coming days and weeks. Keep checking the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) portal and follow our social channels on Twitter (@Insafenetwork and @SafeInternetDay) and Facebook (@SaferInternet and @SaferInternetDay) for the latest news, information, advice and resources from the Insafe network and from other stakeholder organisations on staying safe online during the coronavirus pandemic.

Discover more resources published by European Safer Internet Centres in a variety of European languages >>

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