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This page is for Columbus residents. You'll find plain-language tips for staying safer online, guidance on getting connected and building digital skills, and information on where to report scams or ask for help when something goes wrong. The Department of Technology put this page together to give residents a single place to start.
For information about cyber threat actors attempting to disrupt the city's IT infrastructure, visit our Cybersecurity page.
Most online attacks succeed because of small everyday habits, not sophisticated hacking. The tips below are the ones that make the biggest difference in day-to-day life. You don't have to do everything at once. Pick one, get it in place, then move to the next.
The single biggest thing you can do for your online safety is stop reusing passwords across sites. A password manager generates and remembers a different strong password for every account, so you only have to remember one. Most work on your phone and computer both. Free options are widely available.
Multi-factor authentication (also called MFA, 2FA, or two-step verification) means logging in requires your password plus something else, usually a code sent to your phone or generated by an app. Turn it on for email, banking, and any account tied to your money or identity. Even if someone steals your password, they still can't get in.
Phishing is when someone sends a message pretending to be a trusted organization, hoping you'll click a link or hand over information. Watch for urgency ("your account will be closed today"), unexpected attachments, and slightly-off sender addresses. When in doubt, don't click. Go directly to the organization's website by typing the address yourself.
Updates are boring, but they patch the security holes attackers use. Turn on automatic updates for your phone, computer, browser, and apps. If a device is too old to receive updates anymore, treat it like it's already broken and be careful what you use it for.
Free Wi-Fi at coffee shops, airports, and hotels is convenient, but not always safe. Skip banking and shopping on public networks. If you have to use one, stick to sites with "https" in the address, or use a trusted virtual private network (VPN).
You can pull a free credit report from each of the three major bureaus every year at AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for accounts you don't recognize. If you find something wrong, report it immediately.
Scammers change tactics constantly, but the underlying moves stay the same: create urgency, pretend to be someone you trust, and pressure you to act before you think. Knowing the common patterns is most of the defense.
Phishing (email), smishing (text), and vishing (phone calls) all use the same trick: pretending to be your bank, a government agency, a shipping company, or a family member in trouble. No legitimate agency will ask you to send gift cards, wire money, or share your Social Security number over the phone or through a text message.
A popup says your computer is infected and gives you a number to call. Or someone claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple, or your internet provider calls out of the blue. Real tech companies do not cold-call you. Hang up, close the popup, and if you're worried about your computer, take it to someone you already trust.
Scammers deliberately target older adults, often through fake IRS calls, grandparent scams ("I'm in jail and need bail money"), and fake Medicare or Social Security notices. If you have older relatives, talk with them about these tactics before something happens. The best defense is knowing the plays before they're run.
If a deal looks unreasonably good, it usually is. Watch for lookalike websites (columb.us instead of columbus.gov), sellers who only take payment through wire transfer or gift cards, and social media ads for products you've never heard of. Pay with a credit card when you can, because credit cards give you the most protection when a purchase goes wrong.
Anyone who builds a fast online relationship and then asks you for money is running a scam. Same goes for job offers that require you to buy equipment upfront or move money through your own bank account. If you're not sure, tell someone you trust before you send anything.
Kids are online younger than ever, and the risks change fast. The goal isn't to lock everything down. It's to build the habits and open lines of communication that let kids ask for help when they need it.
Bullying that happens online follows kids home in a way it never used to. Watch for withdrawal from devices they used to enjoy, mood changes tied to phone use, or requests to change schools or accounts. Screenshots preserve evidence. Most platforms have report and block tools built in.
Every major device and app has parental controls built in. They aren't perfect, but they raise the bar. Set them up when you set up the device, not after there's a problem. Screen time limits, content filters, and app approval settings are all standard.
Most social media apps default to public. Walk through the privacy settings with your kids and set accounts to private. Turn off location sharing on posts. Remind kids that anything they send can be screenshotted and shared, and that direct messages from strangers are almost never what they seem.
Getting online and knowing how to use what's there is a basic requirement for most jobs, school, and government services now. The Department of Technology works with partners across Central Ohio to make sure Columbus residents have both.
Every CML branch offers free public computers, free Wi-Fi, and staff who can help with everything from setting up an email account to filling out an online application. Many branches run free digital skills classes. A library card is free for anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Franklin County.
Visit Columbus Metropolitan Library for Access to Computers & Wi-Fi
Free digital skills training is available through libraries, community centers, and nonprofit partners across Columbus. Classes cover the basics like using email and browsers, along with more advanced topics like online job applications, video calls, and staying safe on social media.
If you've been scammed, hacked, or think your information has been stolen, act fast. Reporting the crime helps you recover, helps investigators track the scammers, and helps warn other people. Below are the right places to report, depending on what happened.
The Federal Trade Commission collects consumer fraud reports and provides step-by-step recovery help for identity theft victims. If your identity has been stolen, start at IdentityTheft.gov to get a recovery plan tailored to what happened.
Report fraud to the FTC Get an identity theft recovery plan
For local crimes including identity theft, contact the Columbus Division of Police non-emergency line. A police report is often required by banks, credit bureaus, and government agencies when you're trying to recover.
Non-emergency: (614) 645-4545 Emergency: 911
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is the primary federal reporting center for any internet-enabled crime, including scams, ransomware, business email compromise, and stolen data.
Report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
The Department of Technology recommends the following independent, free resources for residents who want to learn more. These are federal agencies and nonprofit organizations that specialize in online safety education. The City of Columbus does not endorse any specific products, services, or vendors mentioned on these sites. Links open in a new window.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is the federal lead for cybersecurity. Their Secure Our World campaign covers the four highest-impact online safety habits in plain language.
The Federal Trade Commission's consumer advice site is the strongest single resource for scam recognition and identity theft recovery.
Visit FTC Consumer Advice
The FBI publishes plain-language guides on the most common scam types, including phishing, elder fraud, romance scams, and ransomware.
Visit FBI Scams and Safety
Run by the National Cybersecurity Alliance, this site is a broad library of consumer-friendly guides covering everything from social media privacy to home network security.
Visit StaySafeOnline