Free drop-in sessions were held at the Sea Terminal to mark Safer Internet Day.

The event was hosted by the government, in collaboration with Manx Telecom and Sure, and saw people receive information about cyber security and online safety.

Safer Internet Day was launched 15 years ago by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network, with the support of the European Commission, to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology.

It has grown to be celebrated in more than 150 countries across the globe.

Information on a range of topics was available at the Welcome Centre on Tuesday. Below is some of the advice.

Email attachments:

â?¢ Malicious files can come in all kinds of formats. Malicious codes can be hidden in files that look like PDFs, Word documents and any other file type that can be opened.

â?¢ Just because you recognise the sender of the email doesn’t always mean that it has come from them.

If you are not expecting an attachment, it’s a good idea to confirm with the sender by getting in touch using a known telephone number, in person or other alternative method.

â?¢ It is highly recommended to install anti-virus software which is kept up to date. This will reduce the risk of being infected by malicious software (malware).

Backing up data:

â?¢ Any information you would not like to lose should be backed up. This could include photographs, financial information and other personal documents.

â?¢If using a hard drive to store your backups, ensure you disconnect it from your computer and any networks when not in use.

â?¢ Physical storage such as hard drives and CD-RWs are great mediums to back up your data as long as they are stored securely and away from your originals.

Secure online shopping:

â?¢ Using well known, reputable companies and visiting their official website address will reduce the chance of becoming the victim of fraud.

â?¢ Just because a website appears to be selling well known brands doesn’t make it true. Do some research and find reviews about the company first.

â?¢ Websites using https:// means that the connection between you and the website is secure. But keep in mind, that doesn’t mean that the website is legitimate.

â?¢ Use official payment services to pay for goods. These will offer more protection than direct bank transfers.

Data encryption:

â?¢ If you only want information to be viewed by a limited number of people, it’s always a good idea to encrypt it.

â?¢ There are many free encryption applications available to download and install. Use a reputable company that uses open source standards.

â?¢ It is possible to encrypt any type of file, but keep in mind that some encryption software is designed only to encrypt certain file types.

â?¢ Not all encryption standards are built the same. Some are easily cracked (decrypted) while others (e.g. AES-256) are very difficult to crack using modern computer standards.