There's no better time for online users to review their Internet accounts and activities than National Safer Internet Day which is observed annually around the world. As we navigate a world where AI and deep fakes are becoming part of daily life, the focus is shifting from simple password safety to critical digital literacy.

In 2026, National Safer Internet Day moves one step forward with an emphasis on Smart Tech, Safe Choices. The 2026 theme addresses the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in our devices, gaming apps and social media. This year the goal involves moving beyond fear to empower users to identify AI content, using chatbots and smart assistants effectively and understanding the responsibility of creating and sharing AI media.

SlotoCash online casino is joining in the effort to promote a safe Internet experience for all. Read on for info and tips on how to best safeguard your internet use.

National Safer Internet Day

National Safer Internet Day started out as a small program initiated by the EU SafeBorders project. Today, the need for programs that promote safe Internet use has grown due to the explosion in cybercrimes and online scams that target innocent people to rob them of their identities and their money.

Safe Internet Day has evolved into an interactive experiential program where educators, cryptosecurity consultants and online advocates take the opportunity to educate Internet users about digital footprints and the steps that each user needs to take to avoid online scams.

National Safer Internet Day for Online Gamers

For online gamers, the biggest security challenges focus on scammers' efforts to target their financial transactions, specifically transfers of funds to and from their online accounts. What should you look for so that you can stay safe?

Every scam relies on one of three emotions. If the scammer can trigger you, they can convince you to forgo logic and safety in order to achieve a goal. Scammers try to appeal to:

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  1. A Sense of Urgency –contacting you to tell you that "your account will be frozen in 10 minutes", or ""your tax assessment hasn't been paid and you are in danger of being sued by the income tax authority", etc, they try to convince you to fulfill their "instructions" to mitigate the problem.
  2. Fear – convincing you that there is an emergency that you can overcome by following their instructions, i.e. "your son/daughter/other loved one is in danger and needs your help."
  3. Greed/Hope – raising your hopes and expectations, "you've won a prize", "you've been selected for a remote work position paying $200/hour", etc.

Until recently, scammers used emails and texts to make those initial contacts. Today, with AI technology, scammers can more easily make that initial contact. One tactic involves grabbing a 3-second clip of your voice from a social media reel or a LinkedIn video to create a near-perfect AI voice clone. They also search social media posts looking for recent life events -- a new job, a vacation, or a relative's graduation -- to make their story believable.

Scammers use a "Surround Sound" approach. You might see a sponsored ad for a "too good to be true" discount (Quishing). Then, you get a perfectly written AI email referencing that same "brand." Finally, a "support agent" calls you, often using a spoofed number that looks like your local bank or a government office. When combined,  the information seems reasonable to you and you are likely to proceed to send the scammer the information that s/he is looking for that will allow him/her to gain entry to your private data.

You might even face a "Recovery Scam" after an initial scam where someone posing as an "investigator" promises to get your money back for a fee but continues to target you for most access to more accounts.

Protecting Yourself

National Safer Internet Day promotes smart Internet usage. Cybersecurity advisors suggest that you upgrade your security protocols for 2026 by adopting the safest and most advanced practices.

  • Move to a Phishing-Resistant Identity. Traditional passwords and even SMS-based 2FA (text codes) are outdated. Scammers now use "Smooshing" (SIM-swapping) to hijack your phone number and steal those codes. Look for sites that use passkeys which link your account to your physical device and biometrics (FaceID/TouchID). This makes it impossible for a scammer to "phish" your credentials from a distance.
  • For high-stakes accounts like your primary email or banking, use a physical security key (like a YubiKey). If the key isn't physically plugged into the device, the login fails.

  • Create a Family "safe word" strategy that protects against voice cloning – the #1 tool for emotional scams. A scammer only needs 3 seconds of your voice from a social media clip to clone it perfectly—sobs and all.  Establish a private phrase with your family that is never written down online. If "Mom" calls from a weird number claiming she’s in an accident, ask for the word. If the caller can't provide it, hang up.

  • Never trust a voice or video call for money requests. Hang up and call the person back on a saved contact number you have in your phone.

  • As we’ve moved away from clicking links in emails, scammers have adapted to our new habits. One such scam is Quishing (where scammers place fake QR code stickers over real ones at parking meters, restaurants, or EV charging stations which lead to "cloned" payment sites that harvest your credit card info). Don't pay or send information to a site that you accessed via a QR code.

  • Beware of requests for money or information from unsolicited calls. These calls include callers who say that they're from charity organizations, ecommerce sites, government offices and other institutions, such as banks. Type in the website of the entity with which you need to be in contact and make contact in that way.

National Safer Internet Day is the perfect time to review safe Internet practices and protect our online activities.

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