The holiday season is a time for joy, travel, reconnection, and celebration. It’s also a season when many of let our guard down online and offline. Unfortunately, attackers know this too.
When we are distracted, excited, or eager to share good moments, our digital hygiene often slips. That is why being intentional during this season matters more than ever.
Think of digital hygiene the same way you think of personal hygiene:
small, consistent habits that quietly protect you.
1. Be Mindful of What You Share Especially During Travel
To my fellow African brothers and sisters travelling home to celebrate:
resist the urge to show off.
The “I have arrived” mentality of posting locations, arrivals, gifts, or lifestyle updates in real time can expose you and your loved ones to unnecessary risk.
Protect yourself and your family by:
- limiting location tags
- avoiding real-time travel updates
- sharing memories after you’ve returned
Privacy is protection. Not everything needs an audience.
2. Keep Certain Things Private for Your Own Safety
Not everyone watching your posts has good intentions.
Some people are observing quietly, connecting dots, and gathering context.
What feels like harmless celebration can become useful information to someone with the wrong motives.
Digital hygiene means knowing that:
- silence is not weakness
- privacy is not insecurity
- boundaries is not arrogance
3. Be Extra Careful with Holiday Messages and “Opportunities”
During the festive season, messages increase giveaways, offers, collaborations, job promises, and quick favors.
Slow down before responding.
- verify identities
- question urgency
- don’t click links blindly
You don’t owe strangers access to your time or your trust.
4. Young Ladies: Be Intentional About Online Relationships
This part matters.
Please don’t fall for “he said he lives abroad” as proof of legitimacy.
Photos can be edited. Stories can be curated. Lifestyles can be staged.
It is incredibly easy to make life look a certain way online.
And the truth is simple:
you don’t need someone abroad to validate your worth or your future.
If you’re earning a decent salary, building your life, and growing you can travel abroad by yourself. You don’t need illusions sold through messages and filtered photos.
Digital hygiene also means emotional hygiene.
5. Use Strong Passwords and Enable 2FA
Avoid passwords linked to anything visible on your social media names, dates, locations, hobbies.
Make sure Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is turned on for:
- social media
- banking apps
- shopping platforms
That extra step protects you when emotions or distractions creep in.
6. Be Careful with Direct Messages
Scammers love the holidays because people are more open and less guarded.
If a message feels:
- rushed
- flattering
- overly familiar
- unexpected
Pause and Verify.
7. Awareness Is the Real Gift
Digital hygiene is not about fear.
It is about intentional living online and offline.
Understanding that:
- not everyone is honest
- not everything online is real
- not every message deserves a reply
…is one of the strongest forms of protection you can give yourself and your family.
Final Thought
Enjoy the holidays.
Celebrate fully.
Reconnect with loved ones.
Just remember:
what you keep private today can protect you tomorrow.
Security starts with awareness and awareness is always in season.
Merry Christmas!
