Stay safe online
Being comfortable online can provide us with the tools to speak to our families, a way to shop during a pandemic and even apps to manage our money but with all of this comes some online safety risks.
It’s important to be vigilant online. A few simple steps can potentially save you from losing money through online fraud and scams.
Here are some tips how you can stay safe online:
Two-factor authentication
Most online services like email and banking now offer the option of adding two-factor authentication to the login process. This usually involves texting a code to your mobile phone, or perhaps downloading an app to verify your identity when logging in. This means that even if someone guesses your password, you still have control over allowing the login.
Password strength
Short passwords made up of just numbers or letters can easily be found out by hackers. When creating a password, perhaps try picking three random words which will allow you to create a strong password that is easier to remember.
Also, ensure that you don’t use the same password for everything because you don’t want someone breaking into your bank account because they guessed the password to a social media account.
Password managers (for example, on your phone) can be a very helpful. This is a piece of software that securely stores all your different passwords so that you can always find them.
Don’t ever share your passwords with anyone. For example, bank employees will never ask you for your password. This is a common trick in telephone scams.
Face and fingerprint
As an alternative to traditional passwords, consider using your fingerprint or face scan on your smart phone or tablet as it is completely unique to you and much harder for a hacker to fake. Many new devices now support fingerprint scanning, and a lot of banks now offer face recognition to log in or authenticate payments online.
Think before you click
When browsing and shopping online, it’s easy to fall into the trap of assuming a site is safe.
Scammers will often create very realistic looking websites but, in reality, they are trying to steal your password or perhaps your credit card details. This kind of activity is very common at busy times like Christmas, Black Friday, or January sales, but it can happen at any time.
Links to these sites will often come in an email or text message. If you’re unsure about the link you are clicking, go to a trusted search engine and type in the full address of the site you want. Also, check if your antivirus software is up to date.
Remember: if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is!
If you would like more information about staying safe online, please get in contact with our Digital Team at [email protected]
More information
Here are some useful guides about accessing other services on the internet and mainly how to keep yourself safe online
Staying safe online- Enjoy all the things you can do online while keeping yourself safe and protected.
Shopping online - You can purchase almost anything online and get started is easy.
Managing your money - Using the internet to manage your money is quick, safe and convenient.
