As nationwide protests are expected to take place on June 14, many Americans—whether they plan to participate, avoid protest areas, or simply go about their day—are seeking ways to stay safe. While most conversations focus on physical safety, digital safety often gets sidelined. That’s a mistake.
At Bison Security Co., we specialize in helping families and small businesses prepare for both visible and invisible threats. Large-scale events like protests present prime opportunities for cybercriminals, scammers, and opportunistic bad actors. Whether you’re on the streets, at work, or at home, it’s important to stay safe online during protests to avoid falling victim to phishing attacks, surveillance, misinformation, and other cyber risks.
From fake donation sites and malicious Wi-Fi networks to social media impersonators and doxing campaigns, we’ve seen it all. This guide offers practical, non-partisan tips to help you stay safe online during protests—protecting your devices, your privacy, and the people who rely on you, before, during, and after June 14.
Table of Contents
- 1 For Families: Simple Steps to Protect What Matters Most
- 2 For Small Businesses: Safeguard Operations and Communications
- 3 General Digital Hygiene: Essential for Everyone to Stay Safe Online During Protests
- 4 Final Thoughts: Stay Safe Online During Protests — Security Is Non-Partisan
- 5 Take Control of Your Digital Safety
For Families: Simple Steps to Protect What Matters Most
When it comes to staying safe online during protests, families face unique challenges—and your home network is often the most exposed attack surface. It’s the hub where your kids play games, your partner works remotely, and your private messages, files, and passwords flow every day. Taking proactive steps now will help your entire household stay safe online during protests, reducing the risk of scams, misinformation, and cyberattacks.
1. Have a Conversation About Online Misinformation and AI Scams
During periods of unrest, disinformation campaigns spike sharply—especially on social platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Fake videos, misleading posts, and inflammatory content are designed to provoke anger or fear, making it easy for falsehoods to spread rapidly.
Adding to the challenge, AI-generated scams are becoming more sophisticated. Deepfake videos, AI-generated fake profiles, and automated phishing messages can trick even savvy users into believing false information or handing over sensitive data.
Teach your children and teens to pause and think critically before sharing or reacting to anything provocative. Encourage them to ask questions like:
- Where did this come from?
- Is this from a credible news source?
- Could this be designed to manipulate emotions or deceive?
- Could this be AI-generated content or a scam?
Equip your family with tools like MediaWise or similar media literacy programs to help younger users identify reliable information and spot AI-driven scams. These conversations and tools are vital to helping families stay safe online during protests by reducing the spread of misinformation and avoiding digital traps.
2. Lock Down Devices with Network-Level Content Filtering
Kids and teens may be exposed to graphic content, radicalization efforts, or phishing schemes disguised as protest updates or livestreams. This makes it essential to control what content reaches your devices, especially during heightened unrest.
Recommended Solution: Bison SafeFilter
Our robust content filter protects every device on your home network—from smartphones and laptops to game consoles and smart TVs—without requiring app installs or browser plugins. Bison SafeFilter blocks known scam and malware domains, adult content, and can be configured to restrict access to social media or news sites temporarily. This is a critical tool to help families stay safe online during protests by preventing accidental exposure to harmful content.
Pair Bison SafeFilter with:
- Built-in parental controls on iOS and Android devices
- Bark Parental Controls for advanced monitoring and alerts on social media, texts, and app activity—helping parents spot risks early without invasive surveillance
- Regular reviews of app permissions to disable unnecessary access to your microphone, camera, or location services
Together, these tools offer a comprehensive approach to keep your family safe online during protests and beyond.
3. Backup Family Data Before June 14
Disruptions to power, internet, or online services can happen during large-scale events like protests. Protect your family’s important digital memories and documents by ensuring recent backups are in place before June 14.
Make sure you have current copies of:
- Photos and videos
- School assignments and reports
- Tax records, health documents, and legal files
- Password vault exports for easy recovery
Use secure, encrypted cloud storage providers and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add a crucial layer of protection. Backing up data is one of the best ways to stay safe online during protests, ensuring that if anything goes wrong, your family’s vital information is secure and recoverable.
For Small Businesses: Safeguard Operations and Communications
In times of nationwide protests, small businesses face unique digital security challenges. Beyond physical disruptions, cyber threats often increase as bad actors exploit uncertainty and heightened emotions. To help you stay safe and maintain operations, here are essential steps to stay safe online during protests and protect your business’s critical systems and communications.
1. Prepare for a Surge in Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks
Cybercriminals ramp up their efforts during national events, including protests, by impersonating trusted organizations such as nonprofits seeking donations, news agencies requesting access, law enforcement bodies issuing alerts, or even protest groups sharing misinformation.
What You Can Do to Stay Safe Online During Protests:
- Educate your employees, contractors, and partners about increased phishing risks and social engineering tactics during this period.
- Disable automatic link previews in email clients like Outlook and Gmail to prevent malicious content from loading.
- Encourage staff to verify the source of links before clicking, especially on mobile devices, where spoofing is harder to detect.
- Implement email filtering rules or security tools that flag suspicious keywords such as “Protest,” “Urgent Alert,” or “Donation Request.”
Taking these steps helps your team recognize and avoid phishing attempts that could compromise your systems during volatile times.
2. Secure Both Physical and Digital Access to Your Business
If your office or storefront will be unattended or operating with reduced staff during protests, it’s crucial to secure your digital footprint as much as your physical assets:
- Update and strengthen passwords on all critical systems, including point-of-sale (POS) devices, cloud storage, security cameras, and employee accounts.
- Disconnect or power down any unused devices connected to your business network to reduce attack surfaces.
- Conduct a thorough review of user permissions in collaboration tools like Slack, Dropbox, Google Workspace, or Microsoft 365. Remove or restrict access for users who do not need it.
- Enable remote access logging and monitoring where possible to track and respond to unauthorized login attempts promptly.
Implementing these precautions allows you to stay safe online during protests by limiting opportunities for cyber intrusions when your staff may be less able to respond immediately.
3. Plan for Possible Service Interruptions and Slowdowns
Protests can sometimes disrupt internet service, power, or cloud access—impacting your ability to run day-to-day operations. Preparation is key:
- Schedule regular, automated backups of sensitive business data to secure, encrypted cloud storage platforms that support multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Maintain offline or printed copies of critical business information such as contact lists, emergency procedures, and essential passwords stored securely in password-protected files.
- Establish alternative communication channels for your team. Avoid relying exclusively on one messaging app, social media platform, or email provider; instead, have redundancies like SMS-based alerts, phone trees, or encrypted messaging apps.
By planning ahead, you ensure your business stays resilient and can recover quickly even if usual digital services are disrupted.
By following these focused strategies, your small business can effectively stay safe online during protests while minimizing downtime and protecting sensitive data. At Bison Security Co., we’re committed to helping families and small businesses safeguard their digital lives through practical advice and proven security solutions.
General Digital Hygiene: Essential for Everyone to Stay Safe Online During Protests
Whether you’re a parent protecting your family, a small business owner safeguarding critical operations, or simply someone wanting to stay safe online during protests, maintaining strong cyber hygiene is more important than ever. These foundational security practices are crucial in volatile times to reduce your exposure to cyber threats and maintain control over your personal and professional data.
1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Everywhere Possible
One of the most effective ways to stay safe online during protests is to add an extra layer of protection to your accounts by turning on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). MFA requires a second form of verification beyond just a password, drastically reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Make sure to enable MFA on your:
- Email accounts (Gmail, Outlook, etc.)
- Cloud storage services (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive)
- Banking and financial apps
- Social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
For best security, use dedicated authentication apps such as Authy or Google Authenticator instead of SMS codes, which can be intercepted or spoofed.
2. Update All Your Devices Before June 14
Outdated software and firmware are common entry points for attackers looking to exploit vulnerabilities, especially during major national events like protests. To stay safe online during protests, proactively update all your devices ahead of time:
- Phones, tablets, and laptops should be running the latest operating system versions and security patches.
- Routers and other smart home devices must have up-to-date firmware to prevent network compromises.
- Keep antivirus and endpoint protection software current, and configure devices to receive automatic updates wherever possible.
Regular updating closes security gaps and ensures you’re protected against known threats that often spike during heightened unrest.
During times of protest, many people find themselves working remotely or accessing the internet from cafes, libraries, or other public spaces. Public Wi-Fi networks can be insecure and monitored by malicious actors looking to intercept your data.
To stay safe online during protests when using public or shared Wi-Fi, always connect through a reputable VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and DNS queries, hiding your activity from prying eyes and reducing risks like man-in-the-middle attacks.
Bonus Tip: Combining a VPN with the Bison SafeFilter lets you maintain your home network’s content filtering protections—even when you’re on the go. This dual layer of security helps block scams, phishing sites, and inappropriate content wherever you are.
By adopting these cyber hygiene habits, everyone—from families to small businesses—can better stay safe online during protests and maintain peace of mind in uncertain times.
Final Thoughts: Stay Safe Online During Protests — Security Is Non-Partisan
At Bison Security Co., we don’t take political sides—we take security seriously. In fact, cybercriminals don’t care about your beliefs or affiliations. What they target is anyone who’s distracted, rushed, or vulnerable. That’s why it’s essential to stay safe online during protests by being proactive about your digital defenses.
By committing to strong cyber hygiene, enabling multi-factor authentication, using encrypted messaging apps, and leveraging trusted tools like Bison SafeFilter, families and small businesses can dramatically reduce their risk—without living in fear or confusion.
The truth is, knowing how to stay safe online during protests means understanding that your digital safety is a fundamental part of your overall wellbeing. Preparing ahead with practical, non-political steps empowers you to maintain control and confidence, no matter what’s happening around you.
Need Help Getting Ready?
Bison Security Co. offers affordable, remote-friendly services designed to help your home or business prepare for digital peace of mind during uncertain times like protests and large public events, including:
- Secure device setup and hardening to close common vulnerabilities
- Family-friendly content filtering to block scams, misinformation, and harmful content
- Small business cyber hygiene audits to shore up your critical operations and communications
- Emergency digital response playbooks tailored for your unique needs
Schedule a free consultation today and learn how you can stay safe online during protests with confidence and clarity.
Take Control of Your Digital Safety
At Bison Security Co., we believe strong cybersecurity starts at home—and grows with you. Whether you’re a parent, professional, or small business owner, we’ve got your back with the tools and support you need to stay safe in a connected world.
Here’s How to Get Started:
- Schedule your FREE Home Cybersecurity Audit — 30-minutes, no strings attached.
- Take Our Cyber Hygiene Quiz— Learn where your family or business stands and what to do next.
- Explore Our Cybersecurity Services — From identity protection to digital wellness plans, we make security simple and strong.
- Subscribe for Weekly Tips — Stay ahead of threats with expert advice, family-friendly checklists, and early alerts.
Security That Stands Its Ground.