Do you have toys and gadgets on your wish list this holiday? A stuffed toy or a cell phone or camera? Chances are you do because these days these toys and gadgets are more than they used to be. Just a few years ago a stuffed animal was something to cuddle with and a phone was, well, just a phone! Now, many stuffed animals come with codes that allow you to register them online so you can play games, feed and care for them, and even chat and play with other kids. And many cell phones are phones, computers and cameras, all in one.

And while such toys and gadgets can be fun, we want you to enjoy them without putting your privacy and personal information at risk.

Here are our tips for protecting your privacy as you enjoy your new gadgets and toys:

Think before you click – The Internet is a public arena, and photos and comments you post are permanent. Even if you delete them from a web page, they could continue to exist in archived pages, in your computer’s cache or on the computers of other Internet users who may have copied them. If you don’t want certain people to see something, now or in the future, don’t post it!

Pick and protect the perfect password – Your information is only as safe as your passwords. Use different passwords for different systems; make sure they are strong (eight characters or more and a variety of letters or numbers); never share them with anybody; and change them regularly.

Know your friends – Online, you can’t be 100 per cent sure who you are talking to. Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know in real life.

Protect your identity – Identity theft is a growing problem and the Internet is the least private of spaces. Don’t post or e-mail personal details such as your social insurance number, phone number, home address or birth date.

Be careful on online gaming sites – Online gaming sites are hotbeds of people accessing personal information. Be aware that ill-intentioned people can use information from your profile to establish accounts in your name, or use your stolen identity to access your existing accounts.

Be wary of e-mail or instant messages from unknown people – Don’t open online messages that seem odd or are from someone you don’t know. They could contain a virus or let a hacker gain access to your computer.

Have a happy holiday and enjoy all your new toys!

After reading countless blogs and articles on how important it is to keep your information safe online, you may ask yourself…Is it better to avoid social networking sites all together? This of course is one of the simplest ways to keep your personal information out of the hands of harmful individuals. But can not having an online identity at all be harmful as well?

Not having an online profile, while it may ensure your personal information is safe, could also be detrimental to your chances at a job later in life. “Today’s employers are looking for candidates who have a degree of social media and communications skills as well as an online presence” (National Post). Today’s youth are expected to be extremely knowledgeable when it comes to the internet and its communication possibilities. By establishing a presence in social networks and among your friends and colleagues, you show potential employers that you are familiar with how these tools work. Your social networking and e-communication skills may even look good on your resume.

This doesn’t mean that all employers expect you to have a Facebook or Twitter account. There are several other ways to leave your digital footprint, including; writing a blog or posting comments, posting opinions on news articles, creating a specialized website, signing up for a profile on professional networking sites. It goes on and on …

Before you start posting away, keep in mind that no matter what you’re doing on the Internet it’s always important to think carefully about the message you leave behind. The Internet can be a great tool to present yourself to future employers but can also turn out to be the reason for lost job opportunities.