Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Online safety: the six Cyber Aware steps you need to be aware of!
Reading Time: 5 minutesSo much of our lives are online nowadays. Many people use online banking, most of us have bought something online before, and, due to the pandemic, the number of people working from home has grown hugely.
Although having everything in the palm of our hands can be useful, quick and easy. Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of our virtual worlds. They find new ways to trick us and take our personal information and money.
Hackers and scammers can carry out cyber-attacks by targeting people and businesses using email and website scams and malware. Malware is software that can allow hackers into your device. This means hackers can access private information and bank accounts.
Security experts say there was a staggering 667% increase in malicious phishing emails at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This spike in fraudulent activity was partially due to scammers taking advantage of us home working, According to security experts Barracuda Network cyber crime is still a massive issue. In the second quarter of 2021, there were 81,018 cases of fraud and cyber crime, resulting in a reported £382.3 million stolen!
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself is to use a VPN which helps keep your online privacy.
But what other ways can you protect yourself?
The National Cyber Security Centre has created Cyber Aware; six steps for you to protect yourself, your money and your business and stay safe online.
- Step 1: Use a strong and separate password for your email
- Step 2: Create passwords using three random words
- Step 3: Save your passwords in your browser
- Step 4: Use two-factor authentication
- Step 5: Update your devices
- Step 6: Back up data
Step 1: Use a strong and separate password for your email
If hackers can access your emails, they can use it to gain access to other accounts and websites. They are also able to find out personal information which have may been emailed to you. For example, being emailed a utility bill or tenancy agreement means hackers have access to your address and phone numbers, making it easier for them to steal your identity for their own gain.
Step 2: Create strong passwords using three random words
Cyber Aware suggest creating a password made of three separate words. This makes your password stronger, but still easy for you to remember. It is also recommended you do the same for important accounts, such as online banking apps, to ensure they are secure.
Make sure the words you used and totally random, so they are far less likely to be guessed. Using your first, middle and surname, for example, is something that can be guessed easily. Similarly, using the names of your three pet cats would not be an appropriate choice.
Use a password that involves quite a number of characters, capital letters, numbers and, ideally, odd characters like ?, !, @ or & to fox the scammers.
Step 3: Save your passwords in your browser
Not only does saving your passwords allow you to log into websites even if you’ve forgotten your password but is much safer than using weak or duplicate passwords. Saving passwords to browsers such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge can protect you against certain types of cybercrime too. These types of crimes include fake websites that may ask you to give personal information.
Make sure you protect these passwords in case your device is lost or stolen. There are a few ways you can do this. Turn off or lock your device when it is not in use. Use a password to protect your device at login, as this is extremely beneficial, and adds an extra layer of protection. Similarly, if your device supports fingerprint or facial recognition, this is an even better way to protect your device and your passwords.
Step 4: Use two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication is an easy way to add an extra layer of security to any accounts you may have which contain your personal information. This is particularly useful for online banking, social media and your email account.
This works by asking you to prove your identity. Many websites ask you to provide a phone number, and they will text you a code for you to type in when you try and gain access to an account from a new device or location. This ensures it is you trying to access your account, and not someone else.
Step 5: Update your devices
Software and apps which are out of date can become weak and easier to hack. If your devices are in need of an update, consider taking the time to update everything you can, in order to protect yourself.
Some devices automatically update new software, and some apps will update themselves. This is beneficial as you don’t have to remember each time. Some devices, on the other hand, require manual updates.
Step 6: Back up your data
Last but not least, it is important to always back up photos, documents and other important files. You can also back up your data onto another device, such a portable hard drive or USB stick. Unplug the device when it’s not in use. Additionally, the use of cloud storage is popular nowadays. Cloud storage in online storage.
As with updates, you can opt to automatically back up your device periodically, to ensure you always have a recent copy of your data.
We encourage you to follow these crucial steps and ensure you stay safe online. Keeping your personal and financial data safe is essential in today’s online world.
You can read all about Cyber Aware and read all the latest tips and tricks to ensure your online safety on the National Cyber Security Centre website. Plus, learn all about other ways to stay safe online, such as how to avoid phishing scams and shopping online securely.
Trust us, you’ll thank yourself for protecting your information in every way you can!
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