Tips on how to stay safe online during the COVID-19 pandemic

Latest blogposts

Explore eSafety's latest blogposts

Image-based abuse

The risky business of making money from nudes and other intimate content

We discuss what can go wrong when Australians attempt to make money from their intimate content and how eSafety may be able to help.

Protection of children should always trump protection of privacy

After decades working across online privacy, security and safety, the eSafety Commissioner has never been more fearful for children online.

Another big year keeping Australians safer online

The rise in Australians working, studying and socialising online due to COVID-19 has brought unanticipated challenges for eSafety in 2019-20.

Online reasoning skills for kids are critical

Our kids need to use good judgement and critical thinking to keep them safe online, sort fact from fiction and combat misinformation.

Safety by Design

Building a culture of online safety is much more than a tick box exercise

We are developing two dynamic and interactive Safety by Design self-assessment tools for early stage and more established tech companies.

Limiting your child’s exposure to social media

Limiting your child’s exposure to social media — sometimes the hardest, but the smartest move.

Limiting your child’s exposure to social media — sometimes the hardest, but the smartest move.

Domestic violence

Combatting technology-facilitated abuse within gendered violence

Violence and abuse against women is a scourge on our society. Online, it's often a deliberate tactic to silence women’s voices.

Protecting voices at-risk online

The pandemic has revealed not only how fundamental technology has become to the way we work, learn, socialise and access key information and services, but also how online environments can be weaponised to perpetuate abuse.

Investing in a safer internet

Investing in a safer internet

This week, four tech titans – Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook – find themselves in the virtual hot-seat as they testify before the U.S.

Fight or flight?

Fight or flight? 4 tips to get involved with your child’s social media

Not sure where to start? 4 tips to help you get involved with your child’s social media safety.

5th Birthday

5 years of eSafety a reflection of the road ahead

To mark our 5th birthday, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant reflects on the road travelled, and the road ahead

eSafety sets a framework for A+ online safety education

The importance of online safety education

5 things to look for in an app

If you’re a parent or carer with young kids who are just starting their own online journey, the idea of online safety can seem daunting at first.

Keeping universities safer online

Universities have always thought of themselves as communities, from the ancient idea of the “community of scholars,” right through to the modern university, which is so much more reflective of the broader community around it.

COVID-19: online safety help for women

If you are the target of online abuse remember, it is not your fault. Follow these practical steps you can take to protect yourself and to deal with the abuse.

COVID-19: 5 steps to keep students safe during online learning

Rapid transition has increased and intensified a range of online safety risks for students, teachers and parents

Why Zoom bombed when it should have soared

As COVID-19 changed the way the world works, learns and plays, Zoom rapidly became the darling of the internet.

All nations confront an online threat to children

Just as we are all practicing social distancing and frequent hand-washing during the COVID-19 pandemic, so must we model responsible, safe and respectful behaviour online, too.

COVID-19: Online risks, reporting and response

The COVID-19 crisis has brought about a major shift in the online behavior of Australians. Though almost unimaginable now, only a few weeks have passed since workers and students filled offices, schools and universities in person.

Domestic violence

COVID-19: online safety help for domestic and family violence workers

The technology we use to stay connected can also be used to inflict domestic and family violence.

COVID-19: Protecting children from online abuse

Tips to reduce your child's exposure to unwanted contact online, particularly from sexual predators.

Christchurch shifted the online world on its axis

Targeted regulatory interventions, including Abhorrent Violent Material laws and ISP blocking protocols, are critical to combatting the spread of terrorism online.

COVID-19: an online safety kit for parents and carers

Make the best of being stuck at home by ensuring you can find reliable information, stay connected with family and friends, and help your children stay safe online.

COVID-19: keeping schools and learning safe online

How schools can support students, staff and families online during COVID-19.

COVID-19: online safety tips to help older Australians with social distancing

How to use the internet safely to monitor the coronavirus situation, stay connected and shop while practising social distancing.

Help for Australian women online

In seeking equality we need to consider a range of options to reduce the online abuse of women.

End-to-end encryption: a challenging quest for balance

End-to-end encryption needs to protect safety while also ensuring security and privacy, so it doesn't faciltate criminal activities like the sharing of child sexual abuse material.

Making our schools safer online

This week we have launched our eSafety Toolkit for Schools, a suite of resources designed to support schools in creating safer online environments.

Dangerous online challenges are never funny

Parents and educators can help arm young people against online challenges that show participants being harmed or humiliated.

eSafety early years online safety for under fives

Bring on the photo consent debate – our kids will emerge the winners

On Safer Internet Day, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant urges parents to make the most of opportunities to model positive online behaviour.

Big Ted’s tech tips for 2020: good online habits start early

In 2020, eSafety is starting where it often counts the most: at the very beginning.

WePROTECT: the global community working together to end online child sexual abuse

The online world has brought us enormous advantages. But it has also revealed some of the darkest facets of human character — none darker than the online sexual abuse of defenceless children.

Can age verification help protect our kids from online pornography?

Being a good sport online

Sporting organisations can take easy, practical steps to create a healthy online culture.

Image-based abuse

Fighting the deepfakes arms race

Highly realistic fake images deepen the risk of online abuse, but eSafety can help.

Online safety for our very youngest Australians

There’s no doubt that kids are online earlier than ever before. In a recent eSafety national survey, 81% of parents with preschoolers said their children were already using the internet.

eSafety acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to elders both past and present. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images of people who have since passed away.